One Piece : Wild Hunt

Making his way into the living room, Shirou ran his unbandaged right hand through his hair as he replied, "I was hoping to discuss this much later on. But I guess now is as good a time as any..."
After reaching a more comfortable conversing distance, Shirou looked around, meeting the gazes of everyone present before settling on Illya as he revealed, "The reason we haven't gone out to sea in the past year and a half isn't because of my injuries. Once my body reaches 51% corruption, I will cease to exist..."
As she was well aware of Shirou's condition, Illya couldn't help feeling confused, asking, "What do you mean? I know you've been borrowing the power of your 'future' self, but it's still you, right? Even if your skin and hair change color, you wouldn't just cease to exist."
Shaking his head, Shirou replied, "You're wrong. While Heroic Spirit EMIYA and I are connected, we possess distinct egos. His is much stronger than mine, so once he takes control, everything I am will become a part of his 'memory.'"
Before Illya could interrupt him, Shirou raised his right hand to silence her, revealing, "It's alright, Illya. Miyu is already aware of my condition, and we both came to terms with it years ago. That's one of the reasons we've been loitering her for the past year and a half. If I have to fight someone like Kizaru again, that's probably the end for me..."
Tearing up, Illya replied, "That can't be true..." in a faint, sobbing tone. Then, as if a switch had been flipped inside her brain, she became serious and resolute, loudly asserting, "There has to be a way to save you! With the power of Magic, anything is possible...!"
Instead of attempting to refute Illya's words, Shirou nodded, adopting a wry smile as he replied, "You're right. With the power of the Holy Grail and the Heaven's Feel Ritual, it's possible to separate mine and EMIYA's egos anew. We could also transfer my consciousness to a body without Magic Circuits, preventing his encroachment at the cost of my ability to manifest his power. There are plenty of ways to save me, but they all involve giving up the ability to fight..."
Directing his attention to Thomas, Shirou asked, "I know this is asking for a lot, but will you help us? I have always been willing to die for our cause, but I don't want to make my sister sad..."
Though he was a little overwhelmed by the severity of the discussion, Thomas didn't have to consider his response, stating, "I already agreed to hand over any Install Cards we came across. If you need anything else, it will have to wait until I've reached my goal and helped a few other people attain their dreams. After that, I don't mind lending you a hand. I may be a selfish asshole, but I'm not a monster."
Disagreeing with Thomas's words, Vivi furrowed her brows and asserted, "You're not a selfish person, Tom. If you were, you wouldn't be working so hard to help others and keep your promises."
Smiling wryly, Thomas decided not to argue with Vivi. Instead, he held Shirou's gaze as he added, "It will be three years at the earliest. Until then, I can arrange to have the Doctor I summoned take a look at you. With the proper ingredients, he can even cure death and make people immortal. Stabilizing your condition shouldn't be an issue."
Blinking in surprise, Shirou asked, "You summoned a Doctor? That's the first time I've heard that classification for a Heroic Spirit..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas revealed, "The nine Class Cards I was given were a little unorthodox. Instead of the usual seven Classes, they were positions associated with seafaring. More specifically, I summoned a Captain, First Mate, Second Mate, Cook, Doctor, Navigator, Shipwright, Sniper, and Musician."
Still seated atop Thomas's head, Ruby exhaled an exasperated sigh as she remarked, "That certainly sounds like something my Creator would do..."
Continuing where he left off, Thomas explained, "The Doctor I summoned is Asclepius, the Greek God of Medicine. He's off doing his own thing right now, but if your condition deteriorates, I can summon him using one of my Command Spells. He won't be happy having his research interrupted, but once he hears about your condition...let's just say he's very devoted to his work..."
Adopting a faint smile, Shirou replied, "I appreciate your concern, but you don't need to waste a Command Spell on me. So long as I don't overexert myself against a powerful opponent, I'll be fine. The condition of my body isn't worsening or anything."
"Well, the offer is on the table," replied Thomas, adding, "My Command Spells regenerate at a rate of one per month, and I don't really use them for anything else."
Shaking his head, Shirou insisted, "It's fine. You're already helping us by agreeing to hand over any Install Cards you find. I don't want to become too indebted to you without a chance to return the favor."
Inserting herself back into the conversation, Chloe asked, "Speaking of which, are you ready to form a contract? The sooner we get it out of the way, the sooner we can eat lunch and discuss which Install Cards we'll be lending you."
Adopting a deadpan expression, Thomas replied, "I don't mind, so long as it doesn't involve kissing or anything lewd..."
Flinching like a kid that had just gotten caught trying to perform a prank, the smile on Chloe's face became awkward until Shirou pointed out, "Our world is part of the fiction in Thomas's host reality. He was able to identify me on sight and knew each of your names before he met you."
To prevent any misunderstandings, Thomas promptly pointed out, "Yeah, but I never watched the anime you originate from. In my world, we have something called the Nasuverse, which includes a ton of interconnected anime, manga, and video games. I know about you, but I'm not aware of the 'plot' of your world."
Pointing to Chloe, Thomas added, "As for this one, she appears as one of the Heroic Spirits in a game called Fate Grand Order. One of her skills is called 'Kiss Demon,' so she's fairly famous within various communities..."
Adopting a deadpan expression of her own, a now-recovered Illya gave Chloe a sidelong stare as she muttered, "I believe it..."
Clicking her tongue, Chloe crossed her arms and asked, "What's the big deal? It's just a Mana Transfer utilizing mucous membranes. Besides, while we might look like this, we're old enough to be high schoolers, you know?"
Not finished with what she had to say, Chloe met Thomas's gaze, smiling as she added, "Also, you can't tell me you're not at least a little attracted to me. You can dispute it all you want, but you can't deceive 'these' eyes. They can discern the true nature of people, objects, and even the Mystic Codes of Heroic Spirits..."
Furrowing his brows, Thomas didn't immediately respond to Chloe's accusation. The truth was that most of his 'knowledge' of Fate Kaleid and its characters came from a website whose logo resembled an n with pink devil wings. He had delved into quite a few 'questionable' tags on the site, but there was a difference between fapping to a 2D image and having an actual preference for little girls, even if they were 'legal.'
Having convinced himself, Thomas surprised Vivi by pulling her closer as he replied, "I won't lie. I find you cute, and your promiscuous nature has its charms, but I'm not a lolicon. I prefer strong and beautiful women with big tits and shapely asses."
While Vivi blushed fiercely and covered her face, Chloe pointed to Astolfo, contesting, "Then what about this one? She may be a full head taller than us, but her tits and ass are even smaller than mine and Illya's. She almost looks like a boy."
Before Astolfo could reveal the truth, Thomas pulled her closer, asserting, "Astolfo is an exception." in a firm tone.
Shrugging her shoulders, Chloe replied, "Then I don't see why there can't be more. Besides, it's not like I'm suggesting we have sex or anything. It's just forming a contract and transferring Magical Energy. It's not really that big a deal. Here, watch this."
Without waiting for Thomas to respond, Chloe abruptly pushed Illya onto the sofa, eliciting a startled, "What do you-" before she promptly sealed her fair-skinned counterpart's lips. Illya tried to break free, but Chloe had learned all her weaknesses, effortlessly bypassing her defenses to drain her Magical Energy.
As Chloe constantly needed to resupply her Magical Energy, Shirou just exhaled a sigh in response to common sight while Thomas, Astolfo, and Vivi observed with wide, unblinking stares.
After nearly a full minute, Chloe released Illya from her clutches, leaving the latter with a red face and panting as she sat up, wiped her mouth, and turned to face Thomas, stating, "See? It's not a big deal."
"..." x 3
Undaunted by the trio's silence, Chloe narrowed her eyes, adopting a catty smile as she asked, "Did that excite you, perhaps~?"
To 'expose' Thomas's true nature, Chloe slid her right hand under the hem of Illya's blouse, pushing it up to expose her navel. Thomas's gaze didn't wander, but Chloe could sense the elevation in his tensions, compelling her to tease, "Look at you, getting all flustered..."
Retracting her hand from the still-dazed Illya, Chloe caressed her own exposed abdomen, appending, "Mine and Illya's bodies are pretty much identical. Maybe you have a preference for innocent and bashful girls...?"
Closing his eyes, Thomas exhaled through his nose and said, "This is why I refused your request to accompany us. I don't need the added stress of a second legal loli trying to tempt me. Like, I get that you're not a kid, but it doesn't change the fact you look like one..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Chloe reiterated, "Once again, it's not like I'm suggesting we have sex or anything. Kisses don't mean anything unless you think they do, and there's no harm in simply staring. I don't mind, so why make a fuss?"
Without waiting for Thomas's response, Chloe looked to Astolfo and Vivi, questioning, "What do the two of you think? Do you think my appearance is that big an issue?"
As she originated from a time and place where 'meaningful' consent was a mere seven years of age, Astolfo replied, "I don't really see the issue, but I respect Tom's reservations. If he feels your appearance is an issue, then it is. At least to him."
Though she had encountered girls in their late teens and early twenties who were even smaller than Chloe, Vivi's expression became awkward as she replied, "My response is similar to Astolfo's. I wholeheartedly support whatever decision Thomas makes..."
Clicking her tongue, Chloe was about to ask Vivi how old she was when Thomas interjected, stating, "I know it's possible to transfer Magical Energy without kissing. Establishing a contract should be the same. If you're going to keep trying to force the matter, you can forget traveling with us..."
Shrugging for the nth time, Chloe replied, "I'm not trying to 'force' the matter. I'm just trying to get you to accept that you're making a big deal over nothing. If you want to establish the contract another way, I don't have a problem with it. It's just a lot of additional effort for no 'justifiable' reason."
Inserting himself back into the conversation, Shirou said, "Either way, it can wait until after lunch. We're having tonkatsu rice, panko, miso soup, and salad. We should hurry before it gets cold."
Without waiting for anyone to respond, Shirou took the initiative to leave the living room. He was used to Chloe's 'obstinance' after three and a half years, so he didn't bat an eye at her behavior. The most important thing, at least from his perspective, was that Thomas wasn't the one trying to take advantage of the situation. If Chloe was the one to take the initiative, it was perfectly fine. Much like how student-teacher relationships worked back in his home country...
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(A/N: Different cultures have different rules, and morals change drastically with time...)

After an awkward but delicious lunch, Thomas was given the opportunity to peruse the Install Cards in Illya's and Miyu's possession.
"This is it...?" asked Thomas.
Despite being in the world of One Piece for three and a half years, Shirou and his younger sisters had only managed to collect a dozen or so Install Cards. Some had pretty scary numbers on them, like the Grade 8 Archer, Grade 7 Lancer, and Grade 7 Saber Cards, but it was clear they had a long way to go before collecting all 63.
Smiling wryly, Emiya explained, "Our first few months in this world were spent getting our bearings, securing funds, and acquiring a ship to travel. Traveling between islands also takes time..."
Adopting a wry smile of his own, Thomas replied, "Fair point..." before picking up the Grade 8 Archer Card and asking, "Is this Gilgamesh? If so, couldn't you use his ship to travel...?"
Responding in Shirou's stead, Miyu explained, "The Grade 8 Cards are powerful enough to retain part of their original Ego. Gilgamesh only lets people he approves of utilize his Card. Using it to travel isn't an option..."
"Ah..." uttered Thomas. Then, after setting the Card on the table, he said, "That sucks. I have no intention of speedrunning through this world, but having access to Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon would have made things much easier. It's one of the most badass and overpowered abilities in the Nasuverse."
In an obvious attempt to promote her usefulness, Chloe pointed out, "The Gilgamesh Card is powerful, sure, but the Grade 5 Archer Card can give it a run for its money. Mine and Shirou's Projection Magecraft lets us create Mystic Codes and Noble Phantasms. They might not last long, but they're an effective counter against most of Gilgamesh's arsenal."
Demonstrating it wasn't 'that' easy to pull the wool over his eyes, Thomas replied, "Projection Magecraft is awesome, but the only reason Gilgamesh loses fights is because he doesn't take them seriously. If he pulled out Ea, Enkidu, or Vimana at the start of a conflict, there isn't much his opponents can do."
Directing his attention to Shirou, Thomas added, "Don't get me wrong. Your Unlimited Blade Works is one of the most iconic abilities in the Fate Series. But that's a power your future self acquired after surrendering his freedom and becoming a Counter Guardian. It wasn't meant to be used in combat against Heroic Spirits..."
Instead of refuting Thomas's words, Shirou raised his corrupted left hand and balled it into a fist as he replied, "I know. I have never once believed myself equal to the King of Heroes. I'm just doing what I must to protect what's important to me..."
Adopting an awkward smile, Thomas remarked, "And that's why you're the protagonist in so many anime, manga, and video games..."
Before anyone could ask him for details, Thomas returned his attention to the Install Cards in front of him, focusing on the Grade 7 Saber and Grade 5 Caster Cards, remarking, "I'm pretty sure the Grade 7 Saber is Artoria or Arthur, but who does the Grade 5 Caster belong to? Medea...?"
With an accusatory look on her face, Illya narrowed her eyes and asked, "Didn't you say you didn't watch the anime we originated from? You know an awful lot..."
Shaking his head, Thomas revealed, "In the original anime and video game, Fate Stay Night, Artoria and Medea were two of the Servants summoned to participate in the Fifth Fuyuki Holy Grail War. Alongside them were Gilgamesh, Cu Chulainn, Medusa, Heracles, Hassan-i-Sabbah, EMIYA, and a False Assassin inspired by Sasaki Kojiro. My guesses were based on that lineup."
Answering in Illya's stead, Chloe replied, "Well, you hit the nail on the head. Except for Sasaki Kojiro, we possess the cards of every Heroic Spirit you mentioned. It's almost uncanny."
Picking up the Grade 5 Caster Card, Thomas asked, "What happens when a guy equips the Install Card of a female Heroic Spirit?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Chloe caught Thomas off guard by changing into her incredibly skimpy Archer EMIYA outfit, explaining, "Even when using the same Cards, Illya and Miyu end up with completely different outfits. I'm guessing the same will apply to you."
Averting his eyes from the scantily clad loli, Thomas focused on the Cards in front of him. He could borrow more than one, but one of the conditions they set was that he only takes one at a time. If he was going to let Chloe accompany him, the most 'sensible' option would be to choose the EMIYA Card. Projection Magecraft was the penultimate form of his Reinforcement and Material Transmutation. With the EMIYA Card in hand and a qualified teacher, he could potentially become an unstoppable force...
Before making a decision, Thomas asked, "What are the identities of the other Cards?"
Pointing to each of them in turn, Illya revealed, "The Grade 4 Saber is Bedivere, one of the Knights of the Round Table. The Grade 1, 4, and 5 Lancers are Gareth, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, and Cu Chulain. After them, the Grade 3 Archer is David, from the legends of David versus Goliath. For the Casters, we have the Grade 3 Paracelsus and Grade 5 Medea..."
Getting to the Berserker Cards, Illya's expression became somewhat serious as she said, "I wouldn't recommend choosing a Berserker Card. Unless you possess a strong will, you will gradually lose your ability to reason. If you 'do' choose one, we have the Grade 4 Penthesilea, Grade 5 Heracles, and Grade 7 Lancelot. For Assassins, we only have the Grade 5 Hassan-i-Sabbah..."
Noticing a distinct absence of Rider Cards, Thomas asked, "What about the Medusa Card? Did you lend it to Hancock...?"
While Miyu and Illya promptly furrowed their brows, Shirou adopted a wry smile as he explained, "Hancock was already in possession of the Grade 7 Archer Card, but we lent her and her sisters three of our own in exchange for their assistance. The Grade 4 Archer and Assassin Cards happened to be Euryale and Stheno, two of the three Gorgon Sisters from Greek Myth, so we loaned those to Sandersonia and Marigold while Hancock took the Medusa Card for herself."
Since Hancock and her sisters were known as the Gorgon Trio, Thomas just nodded his head in response to Shirou's explanation. He was curious about the identity of the Grade 7 Archer Card, however, so he asked, "And what about the Card already in Hancock's possession? It must be pretty strong to be ranked between the EMIYA and Gilgamesh Cards."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Shirou maintained a wry smile as he replied, "The Card's identity is Ishtar, the Mesopotamian Goddess of Love and Fertility. As for its power...it's honestly a little ridiculous..."
"..."
Not expecting Shirou to reveal the name of one of his Top-3 Waifus from the Nasuverse, Thoma's thoughts promptly ground to a halt. He knew the Cards weren't the actual Heroic/Divine Spirits, but still...
Recovering his senses, Thomas adopted an expression similar to Illya and Miyu as he asked, "What's your relationship with Hancock...?"
Instead of answering Thomas's question directly, Shirou's smile became wrier as he scratched the back of his head. In his stead, Chloe revealed, "She's been trying to get Shirou to marry her ever since he resisted her charm and went on a rampage in Marie Geoise. That's why he lives out here on the island's periphery. He's trying to avoid her."
Though it was the truth, Shirou furrowed his brows slightly and argued, "I'm not trying to avoid her...I just don't want to get too entangled with the inhabitants of this world. If I were to give in and accept her proposal, it might affect my motivations to return home..."
While Hancock wasn't one of his 'primary' targets, Thomas breathed a sigh of relief alongside Illya and Miyu. Shirou was famously dense, but he was infamous as a harem protagonist. He was like a magnet that attracted Heroines, so much so that if he weren't injured, Thomas could imagine him 'picking up' every major female character he came across...
To prevent Shirou from roaming about freely, Thomas promptly picked up the EMIYA Card and said, "I've made my decision. I'm currently trying to master Reinforcement and Material Transmutation, so this is probably the Card most suited to my current skillset."
While Chloe immediately narrowed her eyes in suspicion, Shirou replied, "That may be so, but if Crocodile owns the Grade 6 Caster Card, you will benefit more from borrowing one of the Saber Class Cards. The Grade 7 Saber grants A-Rank Magic Resistance and Instinct, so it's a perfect counter against Casters. And with your Mana-Mana-no-Mi, you should have no trouble outlasting the average Cardholder."
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "I would probably do exactly that if I were fighting alone, but I have my Captain and several supporting Spirits that can intervene if shit hits the fan. Astolfo, for example, has a grimoire that can negate any Spells beneath A-Rank. After here, there's Benienma, who possesses A-Rank Magic Resistance on her own, and Caenis, who is virtually indestructible. We'll be fine."
Exhaling a faint sigh, Shirou softly remarked, "Your entry into this world has been a lot more 'blessed' than our own..."
Shaking away his negativity, Shirou raised his head, adopting a smile as he supplanted, "I suppose I should be grateful you're on our side. If you were an enemy, achieving our goal might be impossible."
Though Shirou's words made him feel a little guilty, Thomas did his best to suppress it, responding, "I might be an asshole, but I'm not the type to ignore people in need. I might not race from island to island in search of them, but I can promise to help you assemble the remaining Install Cards once my journey has ended. My wish was granted the moment I came to this world, so I don't need really them outside of learning their skills."
Sensing no falsehoods in Thomas's words, Shirou said something the former was starting to get tired of hearing, specifically, "You're a good man, Tom..." before bowing his head and adding, "Thank you for agreeing to help us."
Furrowing his brows, Thomas insisted, "I'm ultimately doing this for my own benefit...I don't need your gratitude..."
Undaunted by Thomas's words, Shirou raised his head, replying, "Maybe not, but I'm still grateful. Now, even if something happens to me, I know there will be at least one person I can trust to look after my sisters..."
Raising his hands, Thomas's eyes widened as he beat Illya and Miyu to the punch, exclaiming, "You shouldn't say shit like that! Haven't you ever heard of a Death Flag!? Jesus Christ, man..."
Exhaling a light chuckle, Shirou replied, "Don't worry. I have no plans to die anytime soon. Rather, now that we have you helping to collect Cards for us, I can relax here on the island and focus entirely on my recovery."
Shaking his head, Thomas rebutted, "Even if that's the case, you should choose your words more carefully. I mean, just take a look around. You managed to piss off all three of your sisters in one fell swoop..."
Following Thomas's direction, Shirou looked around to find Illya, Miyu, and even Chloe 'glaring' at him. His words held a bit of sincerity but were primarily intended as a joke. Seeing how 'serious' their reactions were, he couldn't help smiling awkwardly, scratching his head as he remarked, "I may have taken my joke a little too far..."
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(A/N: Thomas be like, "Ain't no way in hell you're dumping these Lolis onto me...". Also, a friendly reminder to check out the updated AUX chapters. We really worked hard on them xD...)

Shortly after Shirou's departure, Illya, Chloe, and Miyu returned to the living room wearing markedly more 'conservative' clothing. Chloe was toeing the line with a choker, a sleeveless black crop top, and a pair of blue jean short-shorts, but it was a significant improvement compared to the black string bikini she wore previously.
Seeing no signs of Shirou, Miyu, accompanied by her floating magical wand, asked, "Is Onii-san preparing lunch...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "Yeah, he left just a few minutes ago. You should be able to find him in the kitchen."
Without another word, Miyu departed to help Shirou prepare lunch while Chloe practically dragged the nervous-looking Illya into the living room, asking, "So, what did you say your names were?" after taking a seat.
Adopting a somewhat forced smile, Thomas replied, "My name is Thomas, Thomas D. Jensen. These are..."
With Thomas looking toward her, Vivi adopted a more sincere smile as she said, "My name is Vivi. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintances."
Immediately following Vivi, Astolfo practically shouted, "And I'm Astolfo, one of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne! Nice to meet'cha~!"
Though Illya was a bit taken aback by Astolfo's vigor, a nervous chuckle emanating from her throat, Chloe was far more composed, responding, "I'm Chloe, and this is my cousin, Illya."
Following Chloe's introduction, the magical wand hovering next to Illya moved forward to perform a pirouette as it cheerfully appended, "And I've already introduced myself as the marvelous Magical Ruby~!"
Pushing Ruby aside, Chloe said, "Now that we've got the introductions out of the way, let's get down to business. Those markings on your hand are Command Spells, aren't they? That makes you a Master. And if that's the case, there should be a Holy Grail somewhere in this world, right...?"
As it wasn't something he could keep secret if he planned to work with the displaced quartet, Thomas replied, "Yeah, though it's somewhere on Laugh Tale, the final island. Why, are you thinking you can use the Grail to assemble the remaining Install Cards...?"
Spreading her hands in apparent helplessness, Chloe replied, "That would be nice, but I can't imagine you or your Heroic Spirits would simply hand it over. What I'm more interested in is your status as a Master. I want you to form a contract with me."
Surprised by Chloe's request, Illya broke free from her nervous silence, exclaiming, "Chloe!? What are you thinking!? You can't just form a contract with someone we just met...!"
Furrowing her brows, Chloe crossed her arms and retorted, "I don't want to hear it, Illya. You and Miyu have become complacent, and Shirou is on his last legs. We've only collected a single card in the past year, so one of us 'has' to venture outward. We can't keep hiding here and waiting for the Kuja Pirates to locate the cards for us...!"
Pointing to Thomas, Chloe added, "This guy here is our ticket to success. He has a ton of Mana and a Heroic Spirit that can apparently locate Install Cards across vast distances. How else would they know to look for them here...?"
Instead of directly supporting Chloe's argument, Thomas said, "Calm down. I already told Shirou that I would help you assemble Install Cards in exchange for lending me one of your Caster Cards. There's no need for you to contract or travel with me."
Slamming the table that was separating them, Chloe exclaimed, "You're wrong! We've been in this world for three and a half years and have yet to collect even half of what we need to restore Miyu's world! Someone from our group needs to get out there, and I'm the best choice...!"
Before Thomas could try and talk her down, Illya exclaimed, "Stop being selfish, Chloe! We all promised to stick together, no matter what...!"
Adopting a serious expression, Chloe replied, "We also promised to do everything in our power to help Miyu restore her world, but we've spent the last year and a half just sitting around, getting all buddy-buddy with the Kuja Tribe. At this rate, it would take decades for us to collect all the Install Cards, and that's if our enemies come searching for us in the first half of the Grand Line."
Directing her gaze to Thomas, Chloe asked, "You're able to track down and locate Install Cards, right?"
Though he didn't want to get caught up in the twin-like girls' squabble, Thomas eventually replied, "Yes, but collecting them is another matter. I empathize with your girls' plight, but I'm not really looking to 'speed-run' my way through this world. My goal is to reach the pinnacle with my own strength, so while I intend to use the Install Cards to expand my skill set, I don't plan to prioritize collecting them."
Shrugging her shoulders, Chloe replied, "That's fine by me. I'm just tired of sitting around on my butt, waiting for some action. There isn't much to do here besides hunting, fishing, and fighting in the arena, so a change of scenery would be nice."
As beneficial as it would be to have someone intimately familiar with Install Cards and Magecraft among his allies, Thomas didn't hesitate to shake his head, stating, "If all you want is a change of pace, set sail with the Kuja Pirates. You don't need to form a contract with me to travel the Grand Line."
Without missing a beat, Chloe replied, "Yeah, but traveling with you lets me catalog any Install Cards you uncover while also keeping tabs on any we lend out to you. Even if you're super trustworthy, we're fighting for the fate of an entire world. If you were in our situation, would you sit back and entrust everything to a person you just met...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas admitted, "You make a fair point..." before crossing his arms and adding, "But you fail to account for one important factor..."
Tilting her head to the side, Chloe asked, "And what might that be...?"
Though it made him feel like an asshole, Thomas replied, "I didn't come to this world to help you and your friends restore yours. I don't mind handing over any Install Cards we happen to find, but having you accompany us would be a perpetual reminder of your plight, affecting every decision we make along the way. We have enough on our plates as is. We don't need that kind of stress in our lives..."
Finding herself at a loss for words, Chloe plopped onto the sofa and fell silent, staring at Thomas with a blank look on her face. The presence of Vivi and Astolfo had led her to believe that Thomas would be a fairly easy mark that she could influence with a bit of 'enticement.' She didn't expect him to respond with such a...reasonable argument.
Inserting herself into the conversation, Ruby said, "Now, now, no need to make a decision right this instant. We're all ultimately on the same side, so &nbsp;I'm certain we can reach an agreement that benefits both parties."
Floating in front of Thomas, Ruby 'stared' at him with the tiny gemstones he assumed were her eyes, asking, "You seek the Caster Cards to expand your understanding and capabilities with Magecraft, correct? While that's certainly a possibility with prolonged use, the knowledge and experience associated with the cards disappear when they're 'unincluded.' If it were possible to retain the abilities of the Heroic Spirits invoked by the Install Cards, Illya and Miyu would have the combined might of every card we've collected over the past three and a half years."
Before Thomas could respond, Ruby explained, "When 'included,' Install Cards integrate the knowledge and experience of the user with the Heroic Spirit they invoke. The integration is so seamless that you'll feel like their knowledge and experience have 'always' been a part of you. However, the moment you uninclude the card, that sensation will vanish. Your memories of the battle will remain, but attempting to focus on them is tantamount to recalling specific aspects of a dream."
Floating over to Illya, Ruby coiled atop the befuddled girl's head like a snake, adding, "That's where we come in. If someone else includes the card, you can learn the skills directly from them. Chloe has even inherited the knowledge and experience accumulated by the Einzbern Family over the past 800 years. That includes knowledge of the Third Magic, Heaven's Feel. With your Mana-Mana-no-Mi, you may be able to complete the ritual and gain access to the Root, freeing you from the control of our Creator."
Blinking in surprise, Thomas asked, "Seriously?" in a disbelieving tone. The reason Zelretch was powerful was because he had gained access to the Second Magic, Kaleidoscope. If he could acquire the Third, he would be among the most powerful beings across all realities. Thus, while it was certainly a possibility, Thomas couldn't help thinking Ruby was talking out of whatever sufficed as her ass...
Understanding Thomas's skepticism, Ruby shrugged her feathery appendages and said, "With enough Mana, anything is possible. You just so happen to have access to a functionally infinite supply and an ageless body. If you put your nose to the grindstone and apply yourself, there is nothing you can't do."
Furrowing his brows, Thomas adopted a serious expression. As thankful as he was to Zelretch, the elderly vampire's 'interventions' had given him a strong desire to break free from the man's control. He seriously doubted he could become the wielder of a True Magic, but giving up without trying was the same as renouncing his freedom. In the worst-case scenario, he could even end up like the 'original' Shirou, serving as Zelretch's personal Counter Guardian for an eternity...
Though he couldn't help feeling he was walking directly into Zelretch's trap, Thomas nodded his head, meeting Chloe's gaze as he said, "Fine. I still plan to do my own thing, but Ruby makes a lot of good points. So long as you don't try and dictate my actions, I don't mind if you accompany us on our journey..."
Pumping her fists, Chloe responded with a triumphant "Yosh~!" before adopting a broad smile as she said, "Now we just need to form a contract. My body practically hemorrhages Magical Energy, so I need to constantly resupply."
While he had never watched the Fate Kaleid anime, Thomas had acquired Chloe in FGO and seen several GIFs associated with the series. Just to be certain, he asked, "And how, exactly, do we form this contract...?"
Leaning over the table, Chloe replied, "It's embarrassing to say out loud. Why don't you lend me an ear...?"
Interrupting before Thomas could call Chloe out, Illya stammered, "N-N-Now, hold on just a minute! We still need to discuss things with Shirou-nii and Miyu! You can't just go making decisions on your own! And Ruby, why are you encouraging them...!?"
Shrugging her feathery appendages, Ruby sighed before saying, "Chloe is right. It's been nearly a year and a half since we settled here, and you and Miyu have become complacent. You even started treating Miyu's Onii-san as your own..."
Flying over to Thomas, Ruby hovered above his head, asserting, "I'm pretty sure this big fella was sent here to remind us that there are worlds beyond this one. If we're going to save Miyu's world and stop Darius, we can't stay here, waiting for things to change. Don't forget that Rin, Luvia, Tanaka, and countless others are waiting for us..."
With a clearly conflicted look on her face, Illya replied, "I know all of that, okay? It's just that even with the Grade-8 Archer Card, we couldn't defeat a Marine Admiral. If we appear on the open seas again, the Marines might send one to try and capture us. Then everything we've worked so hard to obtain will be lost..."
Exhaling another sigh, even though she didn't have a visible mouth, Ruby responded to Illya's words by stating, "And this is why Chloe wanted to go alone. You haven't given up, but you've allowed yourself to be weighed down by despair. At this rate, we can only achieve our goals by relying on 'external' factors."
Plopping down on Thomas's head, Ruby asserted, "My Creator must have sent this man here for a reason. With the power of the Mana-Mana-no-Mi, he could be the key to defeating the Admirals, overthrowing the Celestial Dragons, and collecting the remaining Install Cards."
Resisting the urge to grab Ruby from his head, Thomas flatly remarked, "I'm right here, you know..."
Leaning forward to look Thomas in the eye, Ruby asked, "Am I wrong? If your desire is to stand at the pinnacle of the world, you'll naturally have to depose those already there. Our goals are aligned, so be a good boy and let big sister Ruby do all the talking, okay?"
Raising her 'face,' Ruby looked toward Illya, her voice making it sound as though she was smiling as she said, "Don't worry. Illya can be pretty slow to act, but she's fairly reliable when she does. She just needs someone to give her a light push. What do you think, Shirou-san~?"
In response to Ruby's words, Shirou emerged from the hallway with a wry smile. What he said next all but forced the matter of Thomas lending them a hand...
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..
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(A/N: We lost power for a few hours just when I was going to start writing. It's still storming, but I'll see about releasing a few more before the next reset.)

Chapter 59: Degradation