Chapter 15: The Little Demon King and the Great Holy Grail War (4)

"Assassin..."

"What is it... Kotomine?"

Shirou looked at Semiramis with a curious gaze as she exited the room, leaving Zod and Sisigou behind.

"Why do you leave those two to their own devices? Saber and Berserker are quite formidable. One is the rightful heir to the King of Knights, and the other, Cu Chulainn, is a Heroic Spirit counted among Ireland’s greatest... If we could bring them under our command as hands and feet..."

"I care not for the hulking brute, but the young lad is intriguing... That is why I shall let them be for now."

"Is that all? That alone is insufficient insurance, Assassin."

"Speak plainly, Kotomine. Do I look like some lowly insect that trembles at the thought of being betrayed by such trifles?"

".......That was a slip of the tongue..."

"Bear in mind that the mouth is not merely a hole to spew whatever comes to mind... Kotomine..."

"I understand. As a gesture of apology, perhaps I could prepare some tea..."

"It is unnecessary. I wish to be alone, so do not enter."

Slam!

As Semiramis slammed the door shut with force, Shirou scratched his head as if troubled. A trace of bitterness lingered in his mouth at being rejected once again.

"Well, an opportunity will present itself eventually..."

Shirou turned and headed toward his own quarters. He clung to the hope that if he succeeded in saving the world, perhaps then she might look upon him differently.

.

.

.

"So in the end, we're just on standby..."

"Here you go, cocoa."

"Oh! Thank you."

In the room where only the Masters had gathered—specifically, the room where only those who weren't intoxicated by Semiramis's toxins and isolated were present—Sisigou and Zod discussed their future course of action.

"So what's the plan...? I'm just a freelancer hired by the Mages' Association, so I don't have much interest in the Holy Grail itself..."

"Well, I do want the Grail. I've been looking for a battery to further reinforce my abilities. Can you really expect me to give that up?"

"You're likely the only person who views the Holy Grail as just a high-grade reinforcement item..."

"Is it not merely a replica of Fuyuki's Greater Grail? If so, treating it as an enhancement tool is perfectly reasonable."

"True, though the Association claims its ability to grant wishes is identical to that of the Greater Grail."

Sisigou sipped his cocoa before standing up.

"Where are you going?"

"To a nearby village. I’m starting to get restless... And you?"

"I'll stay here. I don't have anything better to do."

"Aren't you worried someone might try something?"

"Ha! Me? That's quite the joke."

Zod laughed, dismissing the possibility. In truth, with his abilities, he could hold his own against top-tier Heroic Spirits, competing on equal terms or even surpassing the Three Knight Classes, often considered the strongest in a Holy Grail War.

"Well, I'm heading out then."

Sisigou donned his jacket and headed out. Shortly after, as Zod was about to leave his room, someone else opened the door and entered first.

"My, my... Assassin, what brings you here?"

It was Semiramis. Despite telling Shirou she was going to her room, she had secretly come to find Zod.

"Hmph... May I enter?"

"You're already inside, aren't you?"

"Are you mocking me?"

"...Kuhuhu~ You seem quite agitated for someone so composed, Assassin."

Zod's remark seemed to hit home. Semiramis glared at him as if speechless before letting out a dry cough.

"I-I have deigned to visit you personally. You should consider it an honor!"

"Hmm... Is that so? Then leave."

"Wh... What?!"

Semiramis was genuinely bewildered by Zod's dismissal, yet at the same time, she felt a strange sense of ecstasy. She was falling for his heartlessness—the fact that he didn't care for her as a person but merely viewed her as an interesting trophy to be possessed.

"N-Now, don't be like that. Would you care for some tea? I shall brew it for you myself."

"You just tried to make me drink poisoned coffee earlier... You're quite brazen, aren't you?"

"Th-That was Kotomine acting on his own! I had nothing to do with it!"

Seeing Semiramis immediately throw Shirou under the bus, Zod chuckled as his suspicions were confirmed.

He was a master of psychological warfare, a silver-tongued expert who could manipulate powerful figures to his whim. Before becoming the Demon King of the Underworld, he was known as the 'Moriarty of New York'—an individual who possessed not only physical might but also a terrifying ability to read and exploit the psychology of others.

He had successfully baited her and she had fallen for it. Zod was certain now.

Semiramis harbored an affection for him. Peculiarly, she despised herself and loathed men who genuinely pursued her, yet found herself drawn to men who refused to acknowledge her presence.

Zod realized this. He saw her as nothing more than a trophy to bolster his own glory. Under normal circumstances, she would have killed anyone who looked at her that way, yet seeing her face flush while acting like a petulant child only invited his derision.

"Personally, I prefer obedient women over tsunderes..."

"Wh... what..."

Stunned by Zod's words, Semiramis looked at him with wide eyes before sitting beside him and stealing his lips.

Despite being gifted a sweet, heart-pounding first kiss, Zod’s reaction remained utterly indifferent. This only deepened Semiramis’s infatuation. She gazed at him with eyes full of love and pulled his head onto her lap, offering him a lap pillow.

"My goodness... You are the first man for whom I have ever gone this far... I have surrendered my first kiss to you. Well? Has your view of me changed even slightly?"

"That was your first kiss? Then you pass. But don't misunderstand—you're still just one of my trophies. I like my trophies to be submissive."

"Heh... The more I see of you, the more lovable I find you."

"You’re falling for a man who treats women as mere objects... You aren't sane, are you? Are you a masochist?"

"H-How rude! I simply favor men who look past me to walk their own path!"

"Sure, sure. A fine excuse."

Semiramis puffed out her cheeks at Zod’s words, a charmingly adorable display of rebellion.

"You look not at me, but at the glory that comes with possessing me... and I find that desirable."

"You really are out of your mind..."

"And yet, for a man to treat women as trophies, you aren't exactly normal yourself."

Zod simply shrugged at her remark. Suddenly, the door burst open and Shirou Kotomine rushed in.

"Zod-san! Just how are you managing your Servant? Berserker has deserted the... eh?"

Upon seeing Semiramis giving Zod a lap pillow, Shirou let out a dumbfounded sound.

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