One Piece : Wild Hunt

After learning that Thomas's group had returned, Nami returned to the Merry using Karoo, Vivi's Super Spot-Billed Duck mount. She had been planning to return to avoid having to sleep outside, so Thomas's arrival was as good an excuse as any.
Not finding anyone on the deck, Nami entered the lounge only to pause when she stepped inside. Everything was where it was supposed to be, but she immediately perceived that the furniture was slightly larger and that the interior was more spacious.
Noticing Nami's arrival, Chloe asked, "Is this another one of your women? You've quite the collection built up here, don't you?"
Recovering from her momentary stupor, Nami's brows furrowed as she retorted, "I don't belong to anyone." Then, to confirm her mind wasn't playing tricks on her, she questioned, "What happened here? Everything seems 'bigger' than I remember."
Nodding his head, Thomas answered, "You can thank Illya and Ruby for that. They used the Grade 5 Caster Card to expand your cabin, the bath, and the lounge area. Now, it shouldn't feel nearly as cramped as it used to."
Though various questions popped into her mind, Nami set most of them aside to focus her attention on Illya and Chloe. Their skin, hair, and eyes were distinctly different, but their remaining characteristics were virtually identical, prompting her to ask, "Are the two of you twins...?"
Beating Illya to the punch, Chloe replied, "It would be more accurate to say we're the same person. But viewing us as twins isn't wrong. What's it to yah...?"
Shaking her head, Nami replied, "I was just curious...speaking of which, how old are you two? You look a bit young for a pair of girls brought back by Tom..."
Seizing the initiative, Illya quickly responded, "I think there has been a misunderstanding. Chloe and I...we're not in a relationship with Tom-san. We're just working together."
Metaphorically sweeping Illya's feet out from under her, Chloe revealed, "That isn't entirely true. Tom and I have a Master-Sla&mdash;I mean&mdash;Servant Contract. As for our age, we're a few months away from turning sixteen. How about you...?"
Crossing her arms, Nami retorted, "You don't look fifteen..." before adding, "And I'm eighteen; not that it matters."
Directing her gaze to Thomas, Nami asked, "Just how many more people are you planning to invite to the ship without discussing it with Lucy and the rest of us?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas replied, "I honestly have no idea. A few days ago, I couldn't have imagined this turn of events. Now, how about you sit down, grab something to eat, and listen to my explanation before biting my head off?"
Though she didn't approve of his tone, Nami eventually sat down with her arms crossed, waiting to hear what Thomas had to say. When he divulged that Illya and Chloe were from a different world, she couldn't help feeling a mixture of exasperation and annoyance. As a result, she felt like a bit of a bitch when Thomas subsequently revealed that their friend's world had been destroyed and that they were assembling the Install Cards just for a chance to restore it...
When Thomas's explanation finally came to an end, Nami massaged her forehead, groaning, "You go from wanting to help Vivi save her Kingdom to wanting to help these two save an entire planet...what's next? Saving the Solar System? The Universe...?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas maintained a neutral expression as he replied, "I'm just doing what I can with the circumstances presented to me. I mean, what's the alternative, ignoring people who need my help...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas's expression became serious as he added, "I might be an asshole, but I also understand that power and responsibility go hand in hand. Even if I attained the power to do whatever I wanted, I would still try to help people. I mean, I wouldn't even be in this situation if someone infinitely more powerful didn't give me an opportunity. It would be pretty dickish of me if I didn't at least try and pay it forward..."
While Nami still had a look of exasperation on her face, nearly everyone else in the lounge, especially Vivi, looked at Thomas with varying degrees of approval. Even Ruby was no exception, though she did point out, "I can see why the Creator chose you. You might look like a muscle-brained fool who only thinks with his lower head, but you have a good heart."
Shaking his head a second time, Thomas insisted, "This is honestly the least I can do. If I were a truly good person, I would summon the Hind, fly over to Alabasta, and liberate Vivi's people immediately. Instead, I'm taking my time, prioritizing the development of my strength, and enjoying life as much as possible. At the same time, hundreds of millions of people are suffering under the tyranny of opportunistic Pirates, corrupt Marines, and infinitely more crooked World Nobles. I might not be evil, but calling me 'good' is an overstatement..."
Shrugging her 'shoulders,' Ruby replied, "I take it back. You don't 'look' like a muscle-brained fool; you are one. I mean, are you even listening to yourself? If every 'good' person had to live up to the unrealistic standard you've set for yourself, there wouldn't be any."
Nodding her head, Chloe appended, "There's nothing wrong with enjoying life. Everyone has the right to live and be happy. It only becomes an issue if your lifestyle is maintained at the expense of others..."
Biting into a cherry tomato, Chloe narrowed her eyes as she mused, "If I had to guess, you dislike people calling you 'good' because you have a guilty conscience. Not because you've done something bad but because you plan to skirt the line while 'sampling' various cultures. Sound about right~?"
"..."
Taking Thomas's silence as confirmation, Chloe shrugged her shoulders, stating, "Ruby's right; you are an idiot..." before rising to her feet, yawning, and adding, "Well, I'm off to take a bath. Have fun fretting over pointless things."
Waving her hand, Chloe departed the lounge, descending into the storage room on her way to the bath near the ship's rudder. Illya followed soon after, but not before turning to Thomas, adopting an apologetic smile and saying, "Don't let Chloe's words get to you. She 'usually' means well..."
Shaking his head, Thomas adopted a wry smile as he replied, "It's fine. I also have a habit of saying what's on my mind, so I can't condemn others for doing the same..."
Instead of responding to Thomas's words, Illya adopted a wry smile of her own before grabbing Ruby and following after Chloe. The abruptness of their departure caused an uncomfortable atmosphere to descend upon everyone in the lounge/galley, so while there was still a lot to discuss, the conversation and associated dinner abruptly came to an end...
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With Vivi and Astolfo insisting he leaves the dishes and cleanup to them, Thomas found himself in the men's cabin, silently perusing the pages of his logbook. Zoro and Usopp were both at the feast hosted by Broggy and Dorry, so he currently had the entire cabin to himself.
"Hmmm...?"
Reaching the pages that denoted the status of himself and his Servants, Thomas's brows perked up as he noticed two new entries, one for Chloe and another for the EMIYA Card. He probably could have gone the rest of his life without knowing Chloe's three sizes, but the rest of the information was fairly useful.
Seeing that Chloe had an actual Skill called Kiss Demon, Thomas shook his head and focused on the EMIYA Card. Its Parameters were a lot lower than he expected, but there were a few other things that caught his eye...
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[Profile]
Name: EMIYA
Install Class: Archer, Grade 5
Status: Sealed(003%)
Affinity: C
Mastery: E-
Species: Human, Magus, Counter Guardian
Gender: Male
Age: N/A
Height: 187cm
Weight:78kgs
Blood Type: B-
Likes: All kinds of housework
Dislikes: Heroes of Justice
Talents: Fiddling with junk, all kinds of housework, cooking
Natural Enemy: Himself
[Parameters]
Strength: D(23)
Endurance: C(38)
Agility: C(35)
Mana: B(40)
Luck: E(10)
NP: Unlimited Blade Works(E~A++)
[Class Skills]
Independent Action(B), Magic Resistance(D)
[Personal Skills]
Clairvoyance(C), Mind's Eye[True](B), Magecraft(C-), Projection Magecraft(A), Hawkeye(B+), Circuit Connection(EX)
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Though there wasn't an explanation for Status, Affinity, and Mastery, Thomas had a pretty good idea of what each represented. By inserting a big of Magical Energy into the Card, he caused the 003% to increase to 004%, indicating it was either the 'charge' of the Card or how close it was to manifesting as an actual Heroic Spirit. As for Affinity and Mastery, they seemed to indicate his compatibility with the Card and how close he was to mastering either its use or associated Skills...
Recalling that Illya had brought the Artoria and Medea Cards with her, Thomas briefly considered testing his theory by trying to summon one of the two as Heroic Spirits. If his suspicions were correct, that could be a game-changer. Not just because it implied he would be able to meet the actual Ishtar, but because he could increase the number of allies he had while also gaining access to their knowledge.
Though he was still planning to increase his strength and fight on the frontlines, Thomas had been contemplating establishing an organization to collect information and replace the World Government. He had no idea how to go about it, but he knew he could start by utilizing Benienma's Inn Creation Skill. With sufficient funding, she could apparently manifest and staff her Enma-tei with various yokai from Hell. More importantly, each of her manifested Inns were linked, allowing authorized individuals to travel between them in an instant.
While he had no idea how to manage an intelligence organization, Thomas supposed that Robin could point him in the right direction. Benienma also had hundreds of years of experience operating the Enma-tei, so he could potentially entrust everything to her while he focused on his training. If nothing else, he would have a mystical bathhouse comparable to the one from Spirited Away all to himself...
Though it probably wasn't feasible, Thomas couldn't help visualizing the scene of a private bath filled with One Piece's most prominent beauties. Even if they weren't members of his 'harem,' he was pretty sure he could make the Enma-tei a kind of hub where everyone gathered to celebrate or exchange information. Girls like Nami would likely be opposed to the idea, but Thomas knew that Mermaids, members of the Mink Tribe, and people from Wano probably wouldn't even bat an eye even if he decided to take a dip in an otherwise all-female bath...
Exhaling a heat-tinged sigh, Thomas sprawled across the too-small sofa and stared listlessly up at the ceiling. Though he could delay it for a time, the only way he could accomplish his increasingly ambitious goals was to part ways with the Straw Hats. He simply wasn't suited to the lifestyle of traveling around on a boat, but, more than that, he felt as though he was supplanting Lucy as the Captain and taking away opportunities for her to grow and reach her full potential.
Holding up the EMIYA Card, Thomas considered whether or not he would be a good replacement for Sanji within the crew. He was an exceptionally talented chef, and, despite his low Parameters, he could contend against foes with relativistic speed and reaction times. His Projection Magecraft allowed him to emulate the Mystic Codes and Noble Phantasms of other Heroic Spirits, allowing him to trade blows and keep up with people who were 'much' stronger and faster than him.
Assuming EMIYA could be summoned, the issue was supplying him with enough Magical Energy to stay manifested. He was also nearly as bad as Shirou was when it came to inadvertently wooing women, so summoning him was the same as giving up on Nami. As annoying as she was, Thomas still harbored a small hope that she would come around. If not, well, there were plenty of Mermaids in the sea and Mink on land...
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(A/N: What do you guys think about the Install Cards functioning as catalysts to summon their respective Heroes? And before anyone jumps to conclusions, feel free to defer to the Install Card AUX chapter. At least 30 of the 63 Cards listed are associated with male Heroic Spirits, so no, they would not all be joining the MC's 'harem.')

Interrupting Thomas's contemplative reverie, Ruby phased 'through' the wall separating the male and female cabins, musing, "Magical Ruby has appeared~!"
Without rising from his position on the sofa, Thomas asked, "What's up?" with slightly furrowed brows. In response, Ruby darted over and hovered above him, her voice apologetic as she expressed, "I wanted to apologize for earlier. I shouldn't have called you an idiot."
Surprised by Ruby's apology, Thomas's eyes briefly widened before he shook his head and replied, "It's fine. I know I can be a little cynical and obstinate at times. You don't have to apologize. Rather, now that you're here, there's something I want to ask you..."
Revealing his logbook, Thomas explained his hypothesis about using the Cards as a Summoning Catalyst, only for Ruby to quickly shut him down, explaining, "While it is certainly possible to manifest the Spirits associated with the Install Cards, those Graded seven and lower have had their Egos completely stripped away. Even if you were to summon them, they would be like puppets who act on instinct. Furthermore, their existence would be very unstable, similar to when Chloe first materialized from Illya's body. It would require power comparable to a Grail to stabilize them."
Exhaling a sigh, Thomas muttered, "Well, there goes that plan..." in a tired tone. Before he could grumble any further, however, Ruby gave a feathery shrug and replied, "That isn't necessarily the case. With sufficient Mana and adequate preparation, it is possible to manifest the missing Egos and bind them to their Cards. The problem is, without some kind of 'incentive,' there is no reason for the average Heroic Spirit to obey you."
Smiling wryly, Thomas admitted, "You make a fair point. Still, it's good to know the possibility exists."
With a twinkle in her gem-like eyes, Ruby mused, "Oh~? And why is that? Eager to 'sample' some Heroes and Goddesses, are we~?"
Instead of denying it, Thomas's smile became even wrier as he replied, "I won't lie. The thought has crossed my mind..."
Nodding her 'head,' Ruby supplied, "Well, if it's simply their bodies you're after, you could summon them in their egoless state and order them with a Command Spell. It isn't the most tasteful approach, but it should suffice to sate your curiosity."
"..."
Seeing Thomas's expression morph into a deadpan, Ruby asked, "What's wrong? Since they're egoless manifestations, it's not like you'll be harming anyone. Rather, once your curiosity is sated, you'll be able to put the head on your shoulders to proper use. Allowing your lower one to sway or outright dictate your actions is rarely a good idea."
Though he could understand Ruby's logic, Thomas couldn't help shaking his head. He wasn't the type that sought an emotional connection during sex, but the thought of fucking an emotionless 'puppet' felt sad and more than a little wrong...
"Yeah, I think I'll pass on that one..." said Thomas, adding, "I might be shameless, but if I crossed that line, I wouldn't be able to summon their corresponding Egos in the future. It would be way too awkward..."
Shrugging her 'shoulders,' Ruby replied, "Well, it was just a suggestion. We'll be traveling and working together for the foreseeable future, so I figured I would lend you a hand and offer you some advice. I can even prepare love and truth serums, though, with you being a good person and all, I can't imagine you accepting, much less using them."
With Thomas staring back at her with a silent deadpan, Ruby gave one final shrug, remarking, "Yeah, I thought so..." before flittering away from him as she mused, "Being selfish and perverted doesn't make you a bad person, Thomas. If that were the case, Illya might very well be the most wicked person aboard this ship. Ohohohoho~"
Without expanding upon her statement, Ruby phased through the wall separating the male and female cabins, leaving Thomas alone with his thoughts. Now that his plan to supplant Sanji with EMIYA had stalled at the starting line, he needed to think of another solution to keep Nami and Usopp safe once he separated from the crew. The former may not have treated him fairly the past few months, but he wouldn't condemn her to death or let her be taken advantage of by Absalom...
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After a fairly restless night, Thomas awoke to the sound of hammering, prompting him to check the time before dragging himself out of bed for his morning training. The Sun had risen hours ago, but he could still get in an hour or two before lunch. Afterward, he could explore the island, meet Dorry and Broggy, and fight a few large Dinosaurs to see if his Affinity and Mastery with the EMIYA Card changed.
Before Thomas could decide between doing weight training on the ship or cardio on the shore, Caenis abruptly shouted, "Oi, Tom! If you've nothing better to do, come and give me a hand!"
Though it wasn't how he planned to spend the morning, Thomas didn't hesitate to return a wave, answering, "Sure thing." before heading up to give Caenis a hand with the Merry's secondary mast. She was more than capable of getting the job done without assistance, but four hands were better than two. It was also a good opportunity to learn more about fixing and maintaining a ship, so Thomas spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon working alongside the bronze-skinned beauty, stopping only once Benienma arrived with a large picnic basket.
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With Caenis having chased off everyone that came to gawk at them while they worked, she and Thomas were relatively alone, eating in the shade of Nami's tangerine grove, when she softly muttered, "From now on, don't run off someplace I can't see you..."
Though he was more than a little surprised by Caenis's words, Thomas managed to appear calm, nodding his head in silence as he still had food in his mouth. Caenis's words weren't exactly a confession, but they gave a 'very' similar impression, causing Thomas's heart to begin pounding in his chest.
Noticing the increase in Thomas's tensions, Caenis narrowed her eyes and adopted a 'ridiculing' smile as she asked, "Is that all it takes to get your horned up? You dog..."
Contrasting her words, Caenis took a moment to spread her senses through the area, ensuring they weren't being spied on before freeing her breasts from her black bikini top and teasing, "Let's see how you react to these..."
Since she was practically demanding he look, Thomas lowered his gaze to Caenis's breasts, his throat tightening when he noticed her nipples were already hard. When he invariably swallowed, the teasing smile on her face became wolfish as she narrowed her eyes and practically growled, "Lower your trousers..."
Though he was tempted to obey Caenis's instructions without question, Thomas retained enough sense to shake his head and say, "Not here. Not with other people around..."
Clicking her tongue, Caenis responded to Thomas's words by picking up a &nbsp;large piece of sausage and biting off the tip before saying, "Then meet me in the jungle in half an hour. Don't worry about looking for me in a specific location. Just take off running, and I'll come to you..."
Adopting a wry smile, Thomas replied, "The way you word it, it sounds like you'll be hunting me..."
Narrowing her eyes even further, Caenis adopted a 'malicious' grin before taking another large bite out of her sausage. Then, without another word, she took a moment to fix her top before leaping off the back of the Merry and darting into the jungle...
"..."
Seeing Caenis run off, Thomas felt equal parts excitement and trepidation. The thought of being 'hunted' made him uncomfortable, but there was no way he would refuse the bronze-skinned woman's invitation. Caenis was close to Vivi in terms of women Thomas had a deeply-rooted appreciation for, so even if she sometimes dragged him out of his comfort zone, he felt compelled to meet her expectations.
With such thoughts in mind, Thomas was about to leap off the Merry and give chase but nearly fell off when Chloe abruptly appeared behind him, teasing, "I knew you were a beast, but are you seriously about to do it in a dinosaur-infested jungle?"
Adopting a 'serious' expression, Thomas met Chloe's gaze as he stated, "There is a time and a place for everything. Intruding at a time like this is a good way to piss someone off..."
Undaunted by Thomas's words, Chloe narrowed her eyes and adopted one of her characteristically impish grins as she replied, "Don't worry. I'm not trying to get in the way of your fun. I just wanted to let you know that Illya and I will be exploring the island. It's not every day we get a chance to meet and even fight with dinosaurs."
Exhaling through his nose, Thomas answered, "Fine. Do whatever you want. Just stay out of trouble..."
Nodding her head, Chloe replied, "I'll keep that in mind..." before lowering her gaze and adopting a cheeky smile as she playfully mused, "I see that it isn't just your height that's big..."
Resisting the urge to grab the precocious brat and throw her overboard, Thomas just shook his head in exasperation, turned around, and leaped off the Merry. Before he ran off into the woods, however, he turned back and said, "You're treading on thin ice, Chloe. Don't make me regret letting you accompany us..."
Leaning over the edge of the railing, Chloe maintained her mischievous smile as she replied, "Don't worry. Once you set aside your meaningless inhibitions, I'll make sure you enjoy every moment of having me around. Now, run along. You don't want to keep your little friend waiting."
"..."
Though Chloe's words gave him the sudden urge to order her back to Amazon Lily, Thomas eventually turned around and departed without responding. He had far more important things to deal with right now, so he decided to simply ignore her as he made his way into the jungle to be hunted by Caenis. If she decided to 'surprise' him by appearing while he was in the middle of the act, however, her bronzed ass would be back at the Emiya residence before sunset...
Fortunately, as brazen as her behavior was, Chloe wasn't an idiot. She had a pretty good sense of when people were nearing the limits of their patience. More importantly, she could tell that Caenis wasn't the type of woman that would react kindly to being intruded upon, so, no matter how tempting the notion was, she had no intention of interrupting the duo's private rendezvous in the prehistoric jungle...
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After wandering around for nearly two hours, Thomas began entertaining the possibility that Caenis had pulled a prank on him. She wasn't exactly known for her patience, so he expected her to 'assault' him within minutes of him entering the jungle. Instead, he made it all the way to the opposite side of the island, defeating several dinosaurs without her appearing.
Just as Thomas exhaled a sigh and was prepared to turn back, Ceanis landed a few meters away from him, falling from the sky like a meteor before dusting herself off as she declared, "Now you know what it feels like having to wait for someone without knowing where they are or when they might show up. Sucks, doesn't it?"
Without waiting for Thomas's response, Caenis crossed her arms, adding, "This makes us even. Now, start removing your clothes before I decide to rip them away..."
Though he had several questions and felt as though they really needed to talk, Thomas responded to Caenis's threatening remark by yanking off his belt with a single tug. Just as he had conveyed to Chloe, there was a time and a place for everything. And now was a time for action, not words...
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(A/N: Caenis is surprisingly cute...)

After reading through the stack of parchment papers Chloe had prepared for him, Thomas signed his name using a pen that used the writer's blood as ink. When he was finished, she did the same, causing the document to burst into fire, smoke, and ash that surged toward each of them, sinking into their chests and embedding the mark of the contract on their hearts.
Exhaling an exasperated sigh, Chloe adopted a pointed look as she asked, "Happy now? Now we get to walk around with ash engraved on our hearts until we manage to collect all the Install Cards."
Though he felt a bit of discomfort that compelled him to massage his chest, Thomas retorted, "I would rather endure a bit of discomfort than seal the contract with a kiss..."
Rolling her eyes, Chloe offered a retort of her own, asserting, "You're an idiot, you know that? You didn't even bother checking the contract to see if there was any hidden or invisible text. If I included a clause mandating that you personally replenish my Magical Energy, you would have to suffer the 'indignity' of making out with me for the next 4-5 years..."
Narrowing his eyes, Thomas flatly replied, "Then you will have betrayed my trust, and we would be enemies from that moment onward..."
Waving her hand dismissively, Chloe replied, "Don't be a sourpuss. I'm just pointing out you should be more careful when reading and signing magical contracts. I did include a few hidden provisions, but they were similar to comments within a computer program. I only included them to see if you would do your due diligence."
"..."
Contrasting Thomas's grim countenance, Chloe's resembled the look of a kid that had succeeded in a prank as she revealed, "No need to be upset. It was just a few throwaway lines stating that I wouldn't have to call you Master or perform lewd acts unless I wanted to. Since I expected you to find them, I only included things you would naturally agree to."
Exhaling through his nose, Thomas replied, "It was still a betrayal of my trust. Not exactly the best way to kick off our relationship as Master and Demi-Servant..."
Bringing her finger up to her lips, Chloe turned her eyes up at Thomas in an overtly sensual manner, teasing, "You're free to punish me. If you use a Command Spell, you can even mess with my head a bit..."
Shaking his head, Thomas adopted a serious expression as he muttered, "I don't like controlling other people, so you should stop saying things like that before I make it an order. Then neither of us will be happy..."
Crossing her arms, Chloe exhaled a sign and remarked, "You're way too uptight. But fine, I'll stop teasing you, at least until you mellow out a bit. Just know that if I catch you sneaking a peek at my panties or staring at my ass, I won't simply ignore it. I may even keep track of each incident, compiling them into a journal I can read aloud when you finally give in to your more 'bestial' urges..."
Punctuating her statement with a wink, Chloe took the initiative to depart the study she had invited Thomas into for the contract signing. She was a lot more proactive than Illya and Miyu, so she had a sizeable collection of books related to the world of One Piece, its history, and the many islands populating the Grand Line. She even had a collage of sea charts stitched together like a crime map, implying that she had been preparing to set out long before Thomas's arrival...
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Preempting Illya's emergence from the Emiya residence, Ruby flew out at high speeds wearing a pink pirate cap and a toy-like cutlass on her 'hip' as she exclaimed, "Feast your eyes on the marvelous, magnificent, and most importantly, Magical Pirate Princess - Prism Pink~!"
As the surroundings abruptly darkened, followed by a series of tri-colored spotlights converging on the entrance to the estate, a very embarrassed-looking Illya emerged wearing a frilly, predominately pink pirate outfit. It was the first time Thomas was seeing a pirate-themed Magical Girl, but it suited her surprisingly well.
Unable to contain herself, Astolfo abruptly shouted, "Oh my gosh, Illya! You're so cute~!" before rushing over, picking up the embarrassed-looking girl, and cuddling her like a tiny animal.
As she was pretty used to such reactions, Illya laughed awkwardly and replied, "Thanks..." while enduring Astolfo's overly friendly ministrations. When she was finally released, she fixed her outfit and gave Shirou and Miyu a meaningful look before setting her gaze on Thomas and asserting, "I'm ready." in a resolute tone.
Though he nodded in affirmation, Thomas asked, "Are you sure you'll be okay flying such a distance? According to Astolfo, there are at least ten thousand kilometers between here and Little Garden."
Returning a nod of her own, Illya confidently replied, "We might have to stop somewhere for lunch, but so long as we don't fly too quickly or get caught in a storm, I'll be fine. I'm more concerned about Vivi's home and people. We should free them as soon as possible."
Smiling wryly, Thomas was about to remind Illya that she was supposed to be joining them, not determining their course of action. Fortunately, he didn't have to defend the delay in Alabasta's salvation as Vivi adopted a smile and replied, "I appreciate your concerns, Illya, but Tom and I have already formulated a plan to liberate my people and restore prosperity to my Kingdom. I, too, would like to free my people as soon as possible, but rushing into things could have disastrous consequences..."
Voicing Thomas's thoughts aloud, Shirou calmly reminded, "Don't forget that you're the one accompanying Thomas and his friends, Illya. Being a little willful is fine, but you're not the Captain this time around. I know you want to save as many people as possible, but you should listen to Thomas and respect the will of his Captain..."
Nodding her head, Illya softly replied, "I understand..." before directing her gaze to Thomas and adding, "But if I see people that need my help, I won't just stand by and watch."
Adopting a smile, Thomas replied, "You and me both. Now, unless there's something else, we should be on our way. I don't mind making camp on a random island, but I'd prefer to reach Little Garden before sundown. Meet us outside when you're ready."
Without waiting for Illya's response, Thomas turned around with Astolfo and Viiv, giving the peculiar family unit a bit of privacy as they departed the Bounded Field and prepared for their departure. Chloe emerged less than a minute after them, but Illya took a full ten, emerging with slightly teary but fiercely resolute eyes...
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With Illya's cruising speed being just under 1200km/h, the return trip to Little Garden took around eleven hours. They had to make a few pit stops along the way, but nothing notable happened as they didn't stray too far from their temporary campsites.
As Astolfo guided Griff to land on the Going Merry's deck, Atalanta leaped down from her perch in the crow's nest, nearly being the first to welcome Thomas back. Instead, Benienma appeared out of thin air the moment he slid from Griff's back, cupping her hands together and bowing as she said, "Welcome back, Master."
Before Thomas could respond, Chloe issued an amused, "Hooo~?" as she sized up Benienma. The petite Oni immediately noted the presence of her and Illya but also largely ignored them, focusing most of her attention on Thomas as she asked, "Shall Benienma prepare a meal, dechi...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "Let's make it a feast," before looking around and asking, "Where is everyone?"
Answering in Benienma's stead, Atalanta explained, "Caenis got into a fight with the two giants inhabiting this island. Afterward, they invited everyone to join them for a celebratory banquet. I remained behind to watch the ship."
Nodding her head, Benienma appended, "I was helping to prepare the food but rushed over when I detected Master's approach. Shall I fetch them for you, dechi~?"
Not wanting to ruin a party already in progress, Thomas shook his head and said, "Nah, leave them be. We can always celebrate tomorrow. For now, you should return and continue what you were doing. If anyone asks, feel free to let them know we've returned."
Though she would have preferred to remain on the Merry and serve her Master, Benienma didn't hesitate to lower her head, responding, "As you will..." before promptly disappearing.
"That one's pretty fast..." remarked Chloe, a thoughtful glimmer in her two-tone eyes.
"No kidding..." responded Thomas, adding, "Atalanta here would win in a foot race, but Beni is the fastest over short distances. She has two plus modifiers to her Agility and A-Rank Presence Concealment, so unless you have incredibly high perception, her movements resemble teleportation..."
With Atalanta having entered his range, Thomas habitually extended his hand, caressing her head as he spoke. She was a little uncomfortable due to the presence of others, but she didn't attempt to avoid him. After a few seconds had passed, she even closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of having the space between her ears caressed.
Witnessing Thomas's actions, Illya eventually asked, "Are those ears and tail real...?"
Preempting Thomas's response, a gleam flashed across Ruby's 'eyes' as she excitedly inquired, "Could it be!? Have you finally realized the marvel of possessing cat ears and a tail!? It's never too late to modify your outfit to have a few more 'charms,' you know!?"
Recalling a series of traumatic incidents, the light promptly faded from Illya's eyes as she grabbed Ruby with both hands, tightening her grip like a vice as she threatened, "Don't you dare..." in a low, monotone voice.
Understanding the reason for Illya's reaction, Chloe's eyes narrowed as she adopted a mischievous grin. Fortunately, at least for the time being, she had no intention of involving Illya in her 'conquest.' If she tried using Ruby's 'beast' transformation at this stage, there was a good chance that Thomas would immediately send them back to Amazon Lily...
...
..
.
With the intention of surprising Nami and the other girls, Thomas asked Illya and Ruby if they could expand the women's cabin while he focused on preparing dinner. Curiously enough, the EMIYA Card actually included the peculiar Hero's prowess as a chef, prompting Chloe to suggest he use it while she assisted with the ingredients.
Though she could have easily replaced Thomas and prepared everything herself, Chloe complained that it was too much work for very little reward. She also made a few remarks about how girls were only obligated to cook for their spouses and the people they had crushes on, so Thomas didn't press the matter. Instead, he focused most of his attention on observing how his body moved and reacted on its own, almost like he was on auto-pilot despite being in full control of his actions...
Perhaps as a result of Ruby pointing it out, Thomas felt as though he was in a 'very' lucid dream the moment he included the EMIYA Card. He didn't have any of the man's memories, but he felt like everything he was doing was something he had done countless times before. The cooking utensils felt familiar in his hand, and if he wanted to, he could spin and twirl them between his fingers with a finesse he could barely comprehend. His little performance even earned a spontaneous applause from Astolfo and Vivi, causing him to feel inwardly awkward while his expression was a mask of calm and confidence...
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(A/N: Even if it was an important 'lesson,' Chloe is playing with fire...)

Chapter 64: Shifting Tides