Chapter 119
Looking at the raven who had turned into a rather handsome man, I was in shock. I'm sure that if such a man appeared among the Genshin Impact characters, all the girls desperate for male characters would immediately rush to pull for his banner, especially given the commotion even femboys cause among them.
"What the hell happened to you?"
"I could always do this," Oz shrugged.
"This is…" I felt a little dizzy, and I didn't even know how to express the thought that flashed through my mind. It's one thing when we're talking about a raven familiar I merge with, but when it's a handsome man, that just sounds kind of indecent. It made me want to strike him with lightning.
"My lady, please, don't overthink this or you'll get the wrong idea. I am still a familiar, created from a fragment of your soul. I will always be a part of you," the man hurriedly explained, realizing where my thoughts were heading.
'Ah, how much easier it would be if she liked men,' Oz thought, forgetting that his thoughts were just as open to me as mine were to him.
"I heard that," I responded irritably, but still managed to push away the truly harmful thoughts—only for others to come, the depressing kind.
"Oz, am I really so incompetent?" I asked, looking at the power level assigned to me by the system.
Strength: Level 6B/5A (Country+/Planet+)
At this level, I should be able to destroy a country, and with enough preparation, maybe even a planet, but I was almost killed by two servants who are supposedly far weaker by the system's classification. I had already checked the system's assessment for them: Level 7 for Lancer and 9 for Assassin.
(A small note on power levels: I use the power levels from the anime-characters-fight wiki, and that's also where Lancer's and Assassin's levels are from.)
"My lady, your only mistake was intentionally walking into a trap, allowing your opponents to use their trump cards. The same Assassin, despite being level 9, was able to kill Lancer in the original story, despite the power gap, precisely because of the special nature of his Noble Phantasm. Still, you managed to defeat them, displaying overwhelming power, and more importantly, you displayed willpower by staying conscious after your heart was destroyed. That means a lot."
"You're right," I accepted his explanation, which honestly matched my own thoughts—it's easier to take this from someone else because it means my thoughts aren't just self-soothing. "But I still need to get stronger."
As I said this, the room began to change: a flow of golden light burst from the door behind me, forming strange patterns on the walls. Then the system's voice echoed in the hall.
"Request acknowledged.
"Quest generation in progress."
Slightly confused, I listened, trying to understand why the system started now.
"Quest generated. Please review details in the system menu." With these words, a system window appeared before me with the quest details.
Dawn of the End
The princess's thirst for power leads her to accept her inheritance, but hesitation keeps her from claiming it all at once, leaving her only scraps of her authority in a universe where the Astral Express travels between worlds.
Goal: Become the Aeon of the End.
Reward: An insignificantly small portion of the Princess of the End's power (raises power level to High 4A (galaxy cluster+))
Warning: Completing this quest will insignificantly accelerate the spread of the Abyss through all worlds of your multiverse.
"Interesting," I muttered, inspired by what had just happened.
"Your Highness, perhaps we should leave now?" Oz asked helplessly.
"Wait," I waved him off, glancing around while wondering which request to make next.
"That's it!" I remembered what I was somewhat missing. My archery skill had pretty much stalled after reaching the intermediate level—the daily quest requirements had become both unclear and extremely high, and the progress it gave was minor. So…
"System, generate a quest: condition — win the Holy Grail War. Reward — raise archery skill to high," I said, looking toward the door behind which the sealed chamber lay. My hopes were justified: another flow of golden light burst through the door, painting the walls.
"Request acknowledged.
"Quest generation in progress.
"Quest generated. Please review details in the system menu."
There Can Be Only One Winner
Seeking easy power without risking the acceleration of the coming End, the Princess has found a workaround.
Goal: Win the Holy Grail War.
Reward: Archery Skill (High)
"This is like a real cheat code!" I clapped my hands happily, completely forgetting my earlier worries. Though my joy was short-lived, as moments later the walls flashed red.
"Warning: Given the host's current power, raising the 'Archery' skill above High will result in instant atomization due to too high a conceptual level. For safety, manual quest generation is blocked until host's body strength rises to 5B."
"..."
"This was to be expected, your Highness. Surely you know good and bad always go hand in hand," Oz commented.
"Oh, just shut up," I snapped, heading toward the exit from the forbidden section.
"Ahem, my lady, you're not planning to become an Aeon right after completing the quest, are you?" Oz asked nervously, hurrying after me.
"…," I didn't answer, not wanting to talk right now. Frankly, what I really wanted was to find Gilgamesh and shake him down for some divine wine.
"My lady?!"
"To hell with it. If he refuses this princess, then this world has no need for such an Archer," I decided, leaving my inner world and finding myself once more in the Emiya mansion.
Watching as his lady, in a fit of emotion, transformed her outfit into a full dress with the crown of the Queen of Nirvana Night and teleported right above Fuyuki, heading towards the local church, Oz grew anxious and, turning back into a raven, hurried after her. When the princess is in this mood—if anything goes wrong, the Holy Grail War will end tonight.
Less than a minute passed before I was standing on the grounds of the Catholic church, whose doors stood invitingly open. Without a second thought, I entered.
On either side of me were rows of vacant seats, and at the end, in front of a pedestal with a book and lit candles, knelt Kotomine Kirei.
Slowly rising to his feet, hands behind his back, he looked at me blankly and asked:
"What brings you to this place, Master of Saber?"
"Where's Gilgamesh?" I asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about," the fake priest lied without blinking.
"On your knees!" I commanded, using Cursed Speech, and Kirei was forced to the ground with such force he kneeled, cracks spreading through even the stone floor.
"This is a blessed, neutral place—whoever you are, the rules apply to all."
"You're not the one to lecture me about rules—it's been a long time since you defiled this place with the blood of innocents," I said, and for good measure, sent a minor electro charge into the immobilized Kirei, who endured it in silence.
"I'll repeat my question: where is Gilgamesh?" This time, I gathered enough energy in my hand to tear off a limb.
"Why do you seek him?"
"His dog dared ruin my mood, and as a good owner he must compensate me. Otherwise this princess sees him as nothing more than a stray that should be put down."
"You've got some nerve—saying that about this King! And you came without your Servant, too," came a voice, full of playful arrogance, from the entrance.
Turning, I saw a young man with golden hair and red eyes, wearing a white shirt and black jacket and trousers.
"Because of your Servant, this princess is in a bad mood. Hold a feast for me and you'll earn my forgiveness," I demanded. Honestly, I'd have been fine with a fight breaking out—I wouldn't mind trashing this place and dealing with Gilgamesh, though I'd still regret missing wine brewed by the goddess of winemaking.
"What makes you think I'd want to sit at the same table as you?" Archer asked, as if he'd heard something funny.
"Ten years ago, you shared wine with a coarse barbarian like Iskandar, so you won't refuse to drink with me—with Saber."
"He was a king. You're just a princess," Gilgamesh sneered.
"Don't play dumb, King of Uruk. You know perfectly well who I am, and you know even gods should kneel to me," as I spoke, Oz appeared on my shoulder in a violet flash.
"Gods mean nothing to me," Archer replied, golden portals opening behind him.
"Hah, who would've thought the King of Heroes was so poor he can't even throw a simple banquet," I grinned, drawing my bow.
"You dare doubt my wealth?!" My words had clearly struck a nerve.
"The more you twist and turn to avoid agreeing, the more my doubts grow."
"Name the location, and I'll show you what a king's generosity looks like," Archer declared arrogantly.
"The Einzbern Castle. We'll meet there, and maybe even let the owners in since they'll be providing the venue. And of course, what's a feast without your closest followers? I hope the King of Uruk hasn't forgotten the word 'diplomacy' while wallowing in the Grail's corruption and can sort things out?"
"I'll throw a feast so grand no wine or dish will satisfy you ever again—you'll regret your choice," Gilgamesh proclaimed, summoning a golden-emerald contraption with wings and a throne. He ascended it and flew off toward the Einzbern mansion.
"You really pulled it off?" Oz asked, as if not believing what he'd seen and heard.
"Yes," I nodded. "And notice, not once did he dare call me a mutt during our entire conversation. Maybe, just maybe, he really does respect my status a little."
"So what will you do now?"
"I'll head to the mansion for Artoria and Mordred. As for you, you need to call Kevin, Mei, and Rin—they have to be there, and so do you in your human form, understood?"
"As you wish, Your Highness," Oz bowed before vanishing in a violet flash.
'Perfect. I think a farewell feast will be the perfect start to this war's end,' I thought before teleporting to the mansion's courtyard.