Fate Chapter 107: Nobunaga’s request

Solomon had gotten a hang of Angra Mainyu staring into the void with soulless eyes while caressing the tainted container of the Holy Grail. His master was a strange person, possibly with a strange upbringing.

‘Did she have a strange upbringing?’

He could tell that his master was an abnormal being connected to the massive container of magical energy. But he was oblivious to her true intentions of destroying humanity. Even if he knew, he wouldn’t rebel, saying that humanity had to deal with their own mess. He was, after all, a legend of the past.

Angra Mainyu suddenly stood up and walked past Solomon.

“Master, where are you going?” He asked a curious question.

“I have to go… to him…”

“Him?”

Angra Mainyu left an inaudible whisper as she left the cave.

Solomon stayed behind for a few minutes before he also came out to get some fresh air. He saw Mordred, the knight donned in heavy armor, swinging her sword like a maniac. The Saber of his team seemed to be working on a revenge goal against his father, Arthur Pendragon. There was simply no way for him to get along with the Treacherous Knight.

Nagao Kagetora, the Lancer, sat on a set of stairs, her spear cradled in her lap. Her eyes blazed with a fierce warlust as she eyed Mordred.  Never had he seen such an eagerness for combat in someone, not even the fanatic knights of his combat. Whether she was an avatar of Bishamonten or the reincarnation of a goddess, Solomon couldn’t imagine talking to her. Even the knights of his era weren’t this crazy for battle.

Oda Nobunaga, the petite woman dressed like a war general, stood atop the roof of a temple building. As the Archer, she was gifted with sharp vision, and scouting out for threats was her job. Though her frame was considerably small, she was no less ferocious than Mordred.

Their previous bout made her an easy skip for Solomon.

He turned toward the blonde man talking to the giant. The Hero of Greek Mythos was celebrating his reunion with his demigod friend. It was a one-sided effort on Jason’s part as Heracles only ever replied with grunts and roars.

‘I can’t talk to anyone…’

The dignified king of magecraft felt depressed.

Nobunaga hopped down her spot and approached Solomon. “Why do you look sad? Are you mourning the loss of someone special?”

Despite her loathing for her Master, she had nothing against Solomon. On the contrary, she needed a favor from him.

Solomon coughed and straightened his back. “The home of Holy Grail isn’t the best place for anyone. Its mana could have an effect on our spiritual bodies.”

“Does that imply you’re aware of Grail’s evil nature?”

Solomon nodded his head quizzically. While he knew his master belonged to the evil side of the spectrum, he didn’t know the end goal of Angra Mainyu and Gilgamesh. He’d rather not be involved in all of this but Angra Mainyu forced him into this conflict by summoning.

One could say he was participating in this war out of a sense of obligation.

Nobunaga smiled. “This makes things easier for me. Ou Solomon, follow me.”

Her charismatic voice compelled Solomon. He sighed and followed her. Nagao Kagetora joined them as they descended the Fuyuki Temple and the forest that followed.

They were unaware of Jason’s sharp gaze trailing them with suspicion.

“Where are we going?” Solomon asked, voice heavy and dignified. “We walked rather far.”

“That’s the point,” Nobunaga said. “Ou Solomon, cast a bounded field to stop our voices from reaching anyone.”

“The bounded fields weren’t supposed to silence voices.”

Nobunaga’s face twitched. She assumed a solemn look and pointed at herself. “I don’t have time for your jokes. Read the air dammit.”

Solomon cast an advance-level bounded field in an instant. A wide, domed barrier had formed, sealing them in a circle of crystalline clarity. Anything outside the boundary appeared blurred and unreal, as if it was a distant dream. The air seemed still and muffled inside their small space, as if it was completely isolated from the world beyond.

They may as well be in another world beyond the perception of normal beings. The same couldn’t be said for servants. It was the best Solomon could do without any preparations.

The two women around him seemed oblivious to his powers.

“Ou Solomon, beating around the bush isn’t my thing. I’ll just fire my question. Are you content assisting that stupid Angra Mainyu?”

Oda Nobunaga despised Angra Mainyu who tried to bend her servants with command spells. The only way to achieve loyalty was through battles and comradery. Her biggest sore point was Gilgamesh — she’d rather die rebelling than play a part in his plan. She wanted to put down Gilgamesh for looking down on her, which she couldn’t do while being on Angra Mainyu’s side.

Solomon’s eyes widened. “Are you looking to defect from our master?”

“Yes.” Nagao nodded and looked toward Nobunaga. “I wanted to destroy the Evil Grail myself but she stopped me. I can’t let that filth taint my homeland. Look how peaceful this city is. I can’t let it be destroyed for anyone’s enjoyment.”

She loved battle and wars but she also loved her country. Ruining thousands of lives wasn’t the only way to fight a battle.

Nobunaga could see the effect on Solomon’s face. He was pondering.

“Why must we obey that woman? She isn’t even our true master,” she prodded his consciousness more. “Our true master is trapped inside the demonic content of the Holy Grail. Do you not want to save our real master and save the world from destruction?”

King Solomom, the King of Magecraft, could nullify their command spells, or Nobunaga hoped.

Solomon grimaced. “I can free you from the shackles of your Command Spells… Seek a master before you perish.”

Oda Nobunaga almost jumped in happiness. “We’ll find someone. What about you?”

“Betraying the one who summoned me doesn’t sit right with me,” Solomon spoke with decisiveness. “I’ll stay observant as per Master’s orders—”

A deafening thunderclap rang out and the air seemed to ripple as a powerful force struck the bounded field surrounding them. The magical energy that had contained the bounded field shimmered and distorted under tyrannical force.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The bounded field was breached within moments, and the two foggy silhouettes became clearer. A giant of a man and a handsome blonde.

Nobunaga’s eyes glinted with ferocity. “What the hell are you doing, Rider?”

Indeed, it was Jason who ordered his friend Heracles to destroy Solomon’s bounded field.