One Piece : Wild Hunt

Compared to the gamey, unseasoned meat she served for breakfast, the lunch and dinner tenaciously prepared by Benienma were among the best meals Thomas ever had. She not only managed to hunt down a giant pig with bull-like horns, but she also uncovered apples, wild onions, potatoes, and even a few herbs to use as seasonings. She even started fermenting a custom blend of soy sauce but said it wouldn't be ready for six to eight months, depending on how well it was stored.
With more to work with than meat, bones, sinew, and salt, Benienma was able to prepare a veritable feast for dinner. Even Drake praised her to the high heavens, complimenting the petite bird girl until she was practically preening. Her mood diminished when Thomas refused to let her wash his back as 'consolation' for not getting to shower with Drake but immediately perked back up when the latter assigned her the cabin across from him.
Just as she was presented in Fate: Grand Order, Benienma had a doting personality and took Thomas's health and well-being very seriously. She was a quiet, reserved, and earnest girl who made sure he cleaned his plate, adequately washed his hands, and brushed his teeth before seeing him off to bed with the reminder to stay warm and ensure his belly was covered while sleeping. The next morning, she seemed to materialize in his room soundlessly, gently stirring him awake before offering him a cup of tea, fixing his hair, and making his bed.
Though he was a little unnerved by Benienma's actions, Thomas would be lying if he said he didn't appreciate them. Back in his previous world, he had lived alone for the better part of eight years. He occasionally went on dates and had the option to move in with other people a few times, but he had gradually become more introverted over time. It had been a long time since someone seemed to genuinely care for him, so, while he felt a little disconcerted by Benienma calling him Master, he offered her his gratitude whenever she did something for him...
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After a very hearty breakfast, Thomas spent much of the early morning disassembling, reassembling, and cleaning one of Drake's flintlock pistols while Benienma sat in seiza off to the side. He was half-tempted to ask the petite bird girl to teach him her Iai-style swordsmanship but wanted to wait and see who else he summoned before committing to any serious training.
While writing in his log-turned-journal the previous night, Thomas spent several hours thinking about how he would train to become stronger. He knew the basic and the advanced training methods for Observation and Armament Haki, but 'knowing' about something was drastically different from being able to apply it. Without a system to promote his growth or a teacher to watch over him, grasping even the basics was easier said than done.
Once he summoned all of his Servants, Thomas intended to discuss Haki and the matter of his training with them. The First and Second Mate Cards should afford him a fairly powerful, combat-oriented Servant, so he would hopefully be able to apprentice beneath them. Benienma could also teach him how to utilize his Mana to empower himself, but if Thomas were given the option, he would rather train under someone like Scathach than a little girl more than 50cm shorter than him...
Though he doubted he would be lucky enough to summon someone like Scathach, Thomas held out hope that at least one of his Servants would be a capable teacher. If he could summon a Caster, he may even be able to learn actual Magic, creating barriers, shooting lasers, flying through the sky, and even teleport.
While he would prefer to be a physical powerhouse that could go toe-to-toe with the likes of Luffy and Kaido, the path of a Mage had more than a few redeeming qualities. The more powerful Caster-class Servants could nuke cities or erase entire mountains from existence. Combined with Haki, specifically Observation Haki, such firepower would make him an absolute nightmare for anyone lacking the ability to fly. On the opposite side of the spectrum, he could theoretically reinforce his body to such an extent that he was functionally indestructible. Potent Reinforcement Magic combined with Armament Haki? Yes, please, and thank you...
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Following a fairly uneventful morning, Thomas made good on his promise to Drake by spending much of the afternoon pumping Mana into both the Equivalence Engine and the Navigator's Card. They lacked even a basic sea chart, so while Drake was an incredibly competent Navigator, being the second person in history to circumnavigate the globe, they needed someone with the associated 'Skills' if they wanted to sail the open seas without getting lost.
As Heroic Spirits, Drake, Benienma, and anyone else Thomas summoned had Basic Parameters and a list of Skills graded from E-EX Rank in terms of potency. Thomas presently had no way of checking these, but it didn't matter much as Drake and Benienma seemed to have an inherent grasp of their respective capabilities. Drake, in particular, possessed a Skill derived from her status as a Captain, allowing her to assess the capabilities of any member of her Crew.
Though Drake could not ascertain the grade of Benienma's additional Skills due to the latter having a 'very' high-ranking version of Presence Concealment, she could see her Cook Skill was A-Rank. She also knew what Skills the other members of her Crew would possess, which was why she suggested summoning a Navigator as quickly as possible. There was a map within the Captain's Quarters that would automatically update as the Navigator scouted the area, so their Skills would be instrumental in mapping the world of One Piece and ensuring they didn't get lost.
While the Cartography Skill of their Navigator would basically 'break' the world of One Piece, Thomas didn't mind. There were theories in his world that speculated One Piece to be as large as Jupiter in size, roughly eleven times the diameter of Earth. To support this notion, Oda, the creator of One Piece, had suggested there be around 20,000,000 islands within the world he had created. If that were true, Thomas would much rather have a hax map than force their Navigator to draw one from scratch...
"Oh...?"
Interrupting Thomas's thoughts, the Navigator Card in his hand abruptly dissolved into motes of light before another summoning circle appeared beneath him. Thomas was half-expecting another girl to pop out, so he was both surprised and horrified when a familiar figure with pale-pink hair emerged from the summoning circle. They had a long braided ponytail, black ribbons in their hair, cutesy facial features, a short-skirted black top, stockings, and a garter belt beneath white, knightly accessories, but Thomas knew 'very' well that the person he just summoned wasn't a girl...
While Thomas was staring at 'him' with a slack-jawed expression, the feminine-looking Servant promptly struck a pose, making a peace sign near their eyes as they exclaimed, "Hi, hi~! My name's Astolfo, one of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne! It looks like I'll be your Navigator from now on! It's nice to meetcha, Master~!"
Though he was lamenting internally, Thomas did his best to return a smile as he awkwardly replied, "It's nice to meet you...and you don't have to call me Master. Just Tom or Thomas is fine..."
Adopting a radiant smile, Astolfo unhesitantly invaded Thomas's personal space, bringing their face to within a few centimeters of the latter's as they narrowed their amethyst eyes and mused, "Let's be good friends and take care of one another from now on, okay~?"
Despite knowing what kind of 'creature' Astolfo was, a knot formed in Thomas's throat when the former brought their face so close. Back in his previous world, he had followed a V-Tuber named Taiga and even joked with a few people on his Discord about the redeeming qualities of Traps and 'bussies.' Never, even in his wildest dreams, did he imagine he would come face-to-face with one of the most 'infamous' Traps in all of anime and manga...
Realizing they were making Thomas a very particular form of 'nervous,' an amused, snaggle-toothed smile developed across Astolfo's face. Thomas wasn't the most handsome man they had ever met, but anyone who could appreciate how cute they were deserved similar appreciation.
Drawing their face even closer, Astolfo asked, "Not going to respond~?" in a faint, playful tone.
Blinking back to awareness, Thomas pulled back and turned away from Astolfo as he asserted, "I'm not gay..." in an equally faint tone. Then, in a slightly louder voice, he added, "You should go and introduce yourself to the Captain. She should be in her room or on deck..."
Though they furrowed their brows slightly when Thomas mentioned he wasn't gay, Astolfo quickly retained their smile as they playfully replied, "Okay, then. See you later...Master."
Without waiting for Thomas to respond, Astolfo departed from the engine room like a little kid that had successfully pulled a prank. They could tell that Thomas was 'nervous' around them, so, even if he weren't 'gay,' that wouldn't stop Astolfo from teasing him. After all, they weren't gay either. They had certainly been on the receiving end more than a few times, but they appreciated the charms of men and women equally...
With Astolfo leaving him to his own devices, Thomas sat with his head in his hand for a few moments, cursing whoever designed the pink-haired Paladin. Astolfo lacked even a single masculine trait. They lacked a visible adam's apple, their waist was as thin as a woman's, and even their thighs looked soft and plump. It simply didn't make sense for them to be a man.
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Thomas took solace in the fact that his Servant Cards could summon male Servants. He wouldn't mind being the only man among a group of cute or attractive women, but he knew it wouldn't be good for his mental health. He wasn't exactly the most social person in the world, so if he were severely outnumbered, interacting with them would become increasingly difficult.
Though he always pictured himself as suave, charismatic, and extremely capable whenever he imagined himself journeying through various anime and manga worlds, he wouldn't have 'let himself go' if he possessed such traits. He was determined to get stronger, but it would take a tremendous effort to become the person he had always imagined he could be...
Fortunately, while he had lived a fairly mundane life in his previous world, Thomas was now in a world where even a weak chore boy or a complete wastrel could become strong if they worked hard and applied themselves. Now that he had been given a chance to go from ordinary to exceptional, Thomas didn't care how much pain and suffering he had to endure. There was no way in hell he would settle for being mediocre...
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With Benienma arriving to inform him that dinner was ready, Thomas washed up before making his way to the dining room. There, he found Drake and Astolfo in the middle of chatting, but they stopped when he entered. Not because they were trying to keep things a secret from him, but to acknowledge his presence. The moment he joined them at the table, Drake revealed, "I had Astolfo fly around and map the area on her Hippogriff. Once we're finished here, you should come to my quarters to take a look. She managed to locate an island with a decently sized port, so we should consider sailing over to stock up on supplies and gather information."
As he was already aware that Astolfo could summon a Hippogriff, Thomas wasn't particularly surprised by Drake's words. He was also in desperate need of some new clothes, so he replied, "I don't mind, but we don't have a lot of Belly on hand. Even if we sell the pelts you and Benienma have collected, I can't imagine them providing the funds we need for a proper resupply..."
Snorting through her nose, Drake seemed genuinely offended as she asked, "Have you forgotten who you're dealing with? I already told you about my Luck Parameter. I also possess a Skill called Golden Rule that practically guarantees that wealth will fall into my lap, so I only had to walk around the island for a few hours before discovering the ruins of a hideout and a small cache of gold and jewels. Did you seriously think I would propose resupplying without the means to do so...?"
Though he knew about the existence of the Golden Rule Skill, Thomas found himself at a loss in the face of Drake's accusatory tone. He knew she was incredibly lucky, but discovering an abandoned treasure cache by simply wandering around aimlessly...wasn't that a little 'too' broken?
With Thomas remaining silent, Drake added, "We'll set sail shortly after sunrise. There's only 128km between us and our destination, so we can resupply and return before noon. I'll have you accompany me when we go to shore, so ensure you get plenty of rest tonight."
Adopting a wry smile, Thomas replied with a half-hearted, "Right..." before turning his attention to the meat and potato stew Benienma had prepared. He was half-tempted to tell Drake she didn't have to be so rude, but even if he was the Master in their relationship, he understood he would need to earn her respect. If he relied on his Command Seals to 'make' her respect him, neither she nor his other Servants would ever trust him...
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(A/N: It takes time to go from sad to Chad...)

Though he made sure to lock his door the previous night, Benienma still managed to pop up within Thomas's room as if she had teleported inside. Fortunately, unlike the previous morning, Thomas made sure to cover his crotch with a pillow, so he didn't have to suffer the indignity of a little loli commenting on his morning wood.
During Benienma's original life as a human, before she had wandered into the mountains and died, she had been a young girl living and working in a brothel. She had apprenticed under an Oiran, a high-ranking courtesan, and the Enma-tei she operated offered various 'services' to their more prestigious clientele. As a result, she was scarily blase regarding matters of a sensual nature.
While he may have delved into some dangerous tags on websites such as nhentai, Thomas 'vehemently' refused Benienma's offer for assistance. He might become a pirate in the future, but he had no intentions of becoming a 'monster.' Even if Benienma was a demonic loli-baba with a three, maybe even four-digit age, it didn't change the fact she looked like an 8-10-year-old girl. If Thomas gave into her 'temptation,' he was absolutely certain he would go to one form of Hell or another...
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Before Thomas had even finished eating breakfast, Drake had weighed anchor and set the Hind on a course with their destination, a small Port City known as Coniston. The increasingly futuristic-seeming ship had a literal auto-pilot mode, so unless they encountered a storm or needed to navigate rough terrain, the Hind could operate independently of a crew. The only requirement was that it had enough Mana within its engines to sustain its many mystical functions.
Since she didn't want Thomas wandering off and getting shanked by a random thug, Drake said, "When we enter the port, try not to wander off or leave my sight. The current you might die if you get mauled by a stray dog, so do us all a favor and stay on your toes. If you do as I say, I'll take you to a tailor once we've finished our resupply. I would normally charge 300% interest for any money I lend out, but I'll make an exception for you since you're essentially our fuel source."
Though he assumed Drake was teasing him, Thomas took a deep breath and exhaled through his nose. At the same time, Astolfo remarked, "Hey, don't be too hard on our Master, Drake. He might be super weak and next to useless right now, but my instincts tell me he has a lot of room to grow. We should be helping to build his confidence, not break it down."
Nodding her head in approval, Benienma added, "Lady Astolfo is correct, dechi. To sustain three Heroic Spirits without any obvious signs of fatigue, Master's Mana Capacity is already beyond the scope of an ordinary Mage. Once he learns to control his power, he will make a fine Lord. Benienma is certain of it, dechi."
Hearing Benienma's supportive remark, realization donned on Thomas like an epiphany. He had forgotten about it, but there were actually a number of instances where Masters lacked the necessary Mana to support even a single Servant. Even Tohsaka Rin, a genuine prodigy and the heiress of a prestigious Magus family, needed to supplement her Mana with expensive gems. Yet, even after pumping Mana into the Equivalence Engine for five and a half hours, Thomas never felt exhausted...
Noticing the glimmer of realization in Thomas's eyes, Drake adopted a teasing smile as she said, "Don't get too excited. While it's true that you have an abundance of Mana, it's not a power that belongs to you. If you encounter someone with the capacity to strip it away from you, you're not even remotely special."
Though Drake's words were a little harsh, Thomas gave an approving nod, asserting, "I may have been given this power, but I'll work hard to make it my own. I finally have the chance to make my dreams come true. There's no way in Hell I'm going to remain weak..."
Clapping 'her' hands together, Astolfo exclaimed, "Well said~! Brava~! Magnifique~! As expected of my Master~!"
Smiling wryly, Thomas was about to reiterate that he didn't want to be called anyone's Master, but he was a little too slow. Immediately following Astolfo's words, Benienma gave an affirming nod, adding, "As Servants, it is our duty to ensure our Master has everything he needs to reach his full potential. Benienma will do her best to ensure he has adequate nutrition and never succumbs to an unhealthy lifestyle, dechi. Captain Drake and Lady Astolfo must support him in ways I cannot."
Understanding the 'implication' of Benienma's words, an enormous grin developed across Astolfo's face. However, before she could 'volunteer' her services, Thomas interjected to say, "For now, let's wait until the rest of our crew has assembled before making any important decisions. I've yet to decide on the 'path' I intend to walk, be it brawling, marksmanship, swordsmanship, magic, or a combination of the four. Until then, my main focus is getting healthy and trimming away my excess body fat..."
Nodding her head yet again, Benienma firmly asserted, "Leave it to me, dechi! Benienma won't tolerate unhealthy and destructive lifestyles as long as she's around! The key to happiness is a wholesome and fulfilling lifestyle, dechi...!"
Emulating Benienma's vigor, Astolfo jumped to her feet, shouting, "That's right, dechi! We may only be together for a short while, but that shouldn't stop us from making the most of things~!"
Though even Drake nodded her head in approval, Thomas's mind blanked as another realization donned upon him. Everyone seated around him was a Heroic Spirit seeking to have their wish granted by the Holy Grail. Once they reached Laugh Tale, their crew was fated to disband. In other words, even if he grew close to the people in front of him, their time together was limited...
Noticing the change in Thomas's expression, Drake raised her brows and asked, "What's got you so gloomy all of a sudden? Need to take a shit...?"
"..."
Shaking his head, Thomas confessed, "I just realized how short our time together would be. I don't think Zelretch will pull me out of the world the moment we obtain the Holy Grail, but I can't imagine many of you sticking around once you're presented with the chance to make your wishes come true..."
Rolling her eyes, Drake stated, "Fretting over separations and departures is pointless. People come and go; it's a natural part of life. Even close-knit members of the same family must separate to pursue personal aspirations and form families of their own. Unless you still lived with your parents and siblings back in your previous world, you shouldn't expect that 'everyone' you come to care about will stay at your side. You're not the center of the world, Tom. You're barely in control of your own life."
"..."
Losing his appetite, Thomas rose from his chair and said, "I need some fresh air..." before turning around and walking away. In most of the stories he read, especially fanfiction, the protagonists would be given more than enough power to make their every dream a reality. They could collect girls like Pokemon, outsmart Gods that have lived for millions, if not billions of years, and never had to worry about anyone leaving or abandoning them. Even if their harem reached into the hundreds and the protagonist could no longer feasibly spare time for the girls he initially collected, they rarely, if ever, departed the harem...
As someone who hadn't been in a committed relationship ever since his fiancee cheated on him, Thomas would be happy to have even a single woman he could entrust his heart to. Sure, he might dream of having a harem, but that was just part of being a guy. As a seasoned Otaku, he had more waifus than he could realistically name, and, if given an opportunity, he would probably have sex with each one of them. However, that wasn't love, and, in many cases, his fantasies only made sense if he removed the woman's agency and she behaved according to his desires...
After hearing Drake's words and coming to the realization it was only a matter of time until he was left 'alone,' Thomas began rethinking each of the plans he had drafted the previous two nights.
While it was exceptionally scummy to consider, Thomas had 'assumed' he would eventually be able to have sex with each of the female Servants he summoned, excluding Benienma. Many of Type-Moon's series were eroge, Japanese porn games, so many historically male characters, such as King Arthur and even Drake herself, had been converted to females. There was also a concept known as Mana Transfer, a process by which the Master of a Servant empowers them through intercourse. Thus, even if he ordinarily wouldn't have a chance with someone as beautiful as Drake, Thomas was fairly sure they would eventually have sex.
Now that he knew it was only a matter of time before Drake and the rest of his Servants left his side, Thomas needed to consider what he would do following their departure. He would eventually lose his entire crew, so unless Zelretch yeeted him away to carry out whatever unspecified task he had in mind, Thomas would eventually need to depend on his strength and the fellowships he forged during the journey.
With the Strawhats scheduled to reach Laugh Tale within the next five, maybe six years, Thomas had a 'very' limited amount of time to achieve his goals. There was a reasonably high possibility that he could make a wish upon the Holy Grail, but, as he had already been given a chance to transmigrate, it wasn't an exaggeration to say his dream was currently in the process of being actualized. Being too greedy could spell his end, so he made a decision that would invariably shape the rest of his life...
While he would probably have sex with his Servants if presented with the opportunity, Thomas resolved to settle down with just a single woman. He would readily jump at the chance to sleep with others, but the moment he managed to woo someone like Nami, Yamato, Robin, or just about anyone from the central cast of characters, he would focus all his efforts on them. Any one of them would ordinarily be out of his league, so if he could reach the end of his journey with one of them at his side, he would be more than content...
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After reaching the Port City of Coniston, Thomas silently accompanied Drake ashore, observing as she made a fool out of various merchants and haggled shopkeepers to the point they were practically handing over their merchandise at the manufacturing cost. Afterward, she all but picked out his clothes for him, focusing on apparel and equipment that would hold up during expeditions and long trips at sea. This included a dozen breathable white shirts with open collars, several pairs of brown pants, two pairs of leather boots, a pair of sandals, and a vest. Nothing special, but infinitely better than the t-shirt and boxers he had been running around in...
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(A/N: For those that would point fingers, feel free to search the Type-Moon wiki, specifically the articles related to Benienma and her adoptive mother, Datsue-ba. The former mentions that she was a young girl living in a brothel, while the latter directly states that she was a prostitute. This is possible as, before 1903, there were no consent laws within the penal code of Japan. Even today, the age of consent in many regions is only 13 years old, so, being from an era at least 500 years in the past, Benienma being a prostitute isn't surprising. It was the only way many young and orphaned girls could survive and elevate themselves above the status of a commoner within Japanese society...)

After recovering from his initial stupor, Thomas adopted a wry smile as he said, "Welcome to the crew. Also, you don't need to call me Master. It's a little cringe, even for me..."
Without rising from her seiza position, Benienma looked up at Thomas, head tilted to the side as she questioned, "Are you not Benienma's Master, dechi?"
"I mean...I am..." replied Thomas, prompting the diminutive bird girl to say, "Then Benienma will call you Master, dechi. Manners are the backbone of good morals. Benienma must set a good example so that others do not go astray, dechi."
"..."
Since it would be pretty senseless to use a Command Seal to 'convince' Benienma not to call him Master, Thomas just pulled out the next card, the Navigator Card, as he said, "Well...welcome aboard, Benienma. Drake is still in her quarters, but she should be out soon."
Nodding her head, Benienma issued an affirming "Nn. Nn." before asking, "Might I inquire as to the location of the kitchen? I see that the Sun is in the process of ascending, so Benienma will prepare a sumptuous meal to ensure Master and Lady Drake have sufficient energy to get through their day, dechi."
Returning a nod, Thomas said, "Follow me." before leading Benienma to the kitchen. Their only ingredients were the tiger meat from the previous day, but they had everything from a blender to a Mana-powered stove to facilitate cooking. There was also a full array of knives and other kitchen utensils, but Benienma apparently didn't need them, manifesting smaller versions for her convenience.
With nothing better to do while he was channeling Mana into the Servant Cards, Thomas sat at the dining table and supervised Benienma cooking atop a crate. She was too short to use the stove, sink, and countertops without something to stand on, so they would need to pick her up a stool or something in the near future. Fortunately, her skills were as 'legendary' as Thomas was expecting, her speed and skill with a chef's knife so adept he could barely even see the afterimages of her movements as she sliced through thick meat and tendons as if they were tofu...
While Thomas was wondering who would win in a cook-off between the diminutive Oni and Sanji, Benienma abruptly turned to him, a radiant smile on her face as she said, "Everything should be finished within the next ten to fifteen minutes, dechi. It will taste gamey, and a little oily as the only seasoning we have on hand is salt. If you get a stomach ache later, just let Benienma know. I will lend you my lap and caress Master's head until you feel better, dechi."
Adopting a wry smile, Thomas replied, "I'll keep that in mind..." while also resolving to suck it up if he got a stomach ache. Benienma was adorable, and likely much older than both him and Drake combined, but the thought of using her lap as a pillow just seemed...sus. He appreciated her concern, but the thought of a little loli doting over him as if she were his mom made him uncomfortable...
Intruding upon Thomas's thoughts and the dining room, Drake's glistening blue eyes immediately zeroed in on Benienma, a broad smile adorning her face as she said, "Nice. At least now we won't have to worry about taking turns cooking. What's your name, little girl? You can call me Drake, by the way. Captain Drake."
Hopping from her perch, Benienma trotted over to Drake, stopping in front of her before bowing nearly 45 degrees as she earnestly replied, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Captain Drake. This little one's name is Benienma, dechi."
Amused by Benienma's words and actions, Drake mused, "Hoooo~? This one's pretty formal, isn't she?"
Surprising the little bird girl, Thomas revealed, "She used to be a warden of Hell, one of the guardians of the Sanzu River. After her original death, she was adopted by Enma, the King of Hell, and placed in charge of an Inn called Enma-tei. She's very hospitable and regarded as one of the best Chefs among Heroic Spirits. Just be careful never to tell a lie around her...her origin ties to the legend of the Tongue-cut Sparrow. I don't think she will attack her allies, but she's known to cut the tongues of anyone who tells a lie..."
As a fan of Type-Moon and someone who had been playing Fate Grand Order since its English localization, Thomas knew a fair amount about the more fan-favorite Heroic Spirits. Benienma was A-Ranked on the Tier List and appeared in several character events and skits. He couldn't recall if she ranked highly in the official Popularity Survey, but she was one of the more famous 'loli' archetype characters.
Not expecting her 'secret' to be exposed so suddenly, Benienma showed a complicated face. Even if Thomas was her Master, no one liked having their background revealed arbitrarily.
Realizing he may have spoken out of turn, Thomas's smile became wry as he asked, "Should I not have said anything? If so, then I apologize. Two days ago, both you and Drake were just fictional characters that appeared in a purely fictional franchise known as Fate. There is no Magic back in my previous world, much less things like Servants and Heroic Spirits..."
Out of curiosity, Drake crossed her arms and inquired, "What do you know about me?"
Though he anticipated Drake's question, Thomas's smile became wrier as he replied, "Not much, sadly. You appeared in a game and an anime called Fate/Extra, but you were the Servant of one of the Antagonists. I know a little bit about your history and how your Noble Phantasm works, but you were overshadowed by the main Heroine, Nero..."
Furrowing her brows slightly, Drake asked, "I was a villain? I mean, I'm no Saint, but most of my privateering was done for the benefit of my country, England."
Feeling even more awkward, Thomas replied, "Yeah...about that. England doesn't exactly have the best reputation in the modern era. Your country started a rampant slave trade and made an enemy out of pretty much the entire world during the colonial and industrial era. You weren't presented as an outright villain in the games. In fact, a lot of people really liked you as a character. When you were defeated, you went out like a complete badass. Your Master, however, is one of the most hated characters in the entire fandom..."
Exhaling a faint sigh through her nose, Drake adopted a teasing smile as she playfully remarked, "Let's hope this Master is a bit better..."
"..."
Frowning at the thought of being compared to Shinji Matou, Thomas was about to defend himself when Drake added, "Relax. It was just a little joke to lighten the mood a bit. Don't get your skivvies in a bunch."
Without waiting for Thomas's response, Drake shifted her attention to Benienma, adding, "I'm not going to tell you how to do your job, but you should probably pay attention to the stove. Our Master over here is going to need a lot of protein if he intends to bulk and lose that belly fat."
Maintaining control of the conversation, Drake immediately returned her gaze to Thomas, asking, "Have you ever fired a gun before? Firearms are a convenient alternative until you gain the strength necessary to protect yourself."
Nodding his head, Thomas answered, "I spent two years in the Reserve Forces of the United States Coast Guard. I've never fired a pistol, but I've done competition shooting up to 500 yards with a rifle..."
Blinking in surprise, Drake parroted, "500 yards? That's significantly better than I was expecting. The range of a musket from my era was around 50-100 yards. The rifles from your era must be pretty incredible."
Before Thomas could answer or even think about bragging, Drake raised her hand and whipped out one of her ornate flintlock pistols, teasing, "Too bad you're stuck with the weapons from my era. Tell you what. If you can hit a human-sized target in the head or chest from 50 yards away before the day ends, I'll give you a little peck on the cheek. Manage it ten times in a row, and I'll let you take a shower with me."
Seeing the pupils of Thomas's eyes contract before subsequently dilating, Drake chortled in amusement. Men like Thomas were easy to deal with, as there were generally only two things they cared about when an attractive woman was involved. Could they, or could they not fuck them? If there were even a slight possibility that the answer was yes, they would do just about anything...
Flipping the pistol around, Drake entrusted it to 'resolute-looking' Thomas before walking around him to sit at the dining table. She half-expected him to run up to the deck and set up a few practice targets. Instead, he sat in the chair next to her, silently channeling Mana into the Navigator's Card with a thoughtful look on his face...
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After eating the barely palatable meal provided by Benienma, Thomas rowed the three of them to shore. Immediately afterward, Benienma split off from them to gather ingredients for lunch.
Despite her diminutive stature, Benienma was typically a Saber-class Servant, widely regarded as the most powerful of the standard Servant Classes. Her skill with a katana bordered on legendary, and when she moved at her fastest speed, not even Drake could follow her movements. More importantly, she was a skilled hunter and could identify whether or not a plant, fruit, or fungi was edible at a glance. Thus, while she ran off to gather food and ingredient, Thomas remained on the beach, learning how to fire and operate a flintlock from Drake.
Though the literal power of Magic allowed them to skip the usual process of operating a flintlock, Drake insisted that Thomas knew how to use and maintain the weapon properly. Even with his foreknowledge of the future, there was no way of knowing what fate had in store for them. If he found himself in a situation where he had to rely on a normal flintlock and didn't know how to use it, he might pay for his negligence with his life.
As he didn't actually mind learning how to use a flintlock the 'right' way, Thomas listened attentively to Drake's instructions. He planned to learn swordsmanship or simply punch things in the future, but knowing how to use a pistol might prove useful if they managed to acquire some ammo made from Sea Prism Stone. He suspected that was what Ben Beckman used to make an Admiral like Kizaru 'nervous,' and it never hurt to learn a new skill...
Unfortunately, while he was able to hit target around 20 yards away consistently, no amount of compensation allowed for Thomas to hit the same target from 50 yards. Flintlocks had a 'massive' deviation, so even if he aimed at the same place repeatedly, the impact point was all over the place. Even Drake could only manage an average of 7 out of 10 shots on target, and she was a literal superhuman. Her accuracy increased to 100% when a wager was involved, but, inversely, Thomas's seemed to plummet down to 0%. He spent the entire day trying his best but never once hit the target in the intended location...
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(A/N: Drake has EX-Rank Luck. In other words, depending on the circumstances, she can effectively manipulate reality to guarantee a favorable outcome. She's the type of person that could fire her pistols at random during a firefight, and the bullets would ricochet off random posts and polls, hitting even concealed targets without having to aim. When she gets 'serious,' not even Domino from the X-Men can compete xD...)

Chapter 6: A Dangerous Trap