Chapter 23: The Little Demon King and the Great Holy Grail War (12)

"Fufu... You truly are a marvel. To think you not only eliminated the Black Faction's Saber and Berserker but even brought Ruler over to our side."

Semiramis provided a lap pillow for Zod, stroking his golden hair with an adoring touch as she caressed his cheek.

"Was it not because your brainwashing drug worked so efficiently? You followed my orders quite admirably, didn't you?"

"Fufu... It was your command, was it not? You are simply too precious for Us to refuse."

"Right, right. Good girl."

Zod idly toyed with the Empress’s chest as she gazed down at him with affection. He savored the soft sensation of her flesh, his fingers tightening around her breast.

"Nnh... You truly are a fiend!"

Semiramis let out a soft, melodious moan, a faint flush creeping across her face. Zod turned his head further into her lap, burying his face between her thighs. As his hot breath brushed against her skin, Semiramis trembled as if overcome by a sudden surge of heat.

"Mmn... We have said it many times, but you are a true degenerate♡ To use Us in such a manner...♡"

"And so... do you hate it?"

At Zod's question, Semiramis shook her head and pressed her lips against his in a deep kiss.

"On the contrary... We find it quite pleasant."

"Heh... Madwoman."

"Such harsh words, yet We shall overlook them. You are Our Master, after all."

"Isn't your Master that Priest?"

"We have long since stolen the Command Spells and grafted them onto your arm... and not merely Our own, but the Command Spells of every Servant. What that man holds now is nothing but a counterfeit We planted."

"I did wonder why the number of Command Spells had suddenly increased."

Zod looked at the patterns multiplying across his arm before snuggling deeper into Semiramis’s embrace like a spoiled child. Seeing this, the Empress gazed at him with an expression brimming with love.

"Fufu... Acting like a babe, are we? Did you miss your mother's warmth?"

"Miss it, you say... In the first place, I was never born from a mother's womb. I am closer to a homunculus—an artificial lifeform created through in vitro fertilization in a test tube."

"We... We apologize for Our rudeness."

"No, it's fine. You can just play the role of my 'Mama' instead, can't you?"

"You wish for Us to be your mother?"

"Yeah. Play the part of my mother. I'm curious about the warmth of a maternal embrace."

At Zod's words, Semiramis’s face flushed red before she finally gave a slow nod.

"We have never birthed a child... but We shall do Our utmost."

"Right. Mama."

"Fufu... Very well... My son...♡"

Semiramis stroked Zod’s golden hair and planted a brief kiss on his forehead... but then...

Knock, knock...

"Assassin, it is I. May I enter?"

Upon hearing Shirou’s voice requesting permission to enter, Semiramis’s demeanor shifted instantly. Her warmth vanished, replaced by a cold, listless indifference.

"Mm... Enter."

"Assassin, I heard Ruler has been captured— Haah..."

Shirou entered with an excited expression, but it withered the moment he saw Zod receiving a lap pillow from Semiramis. An inexplicable surge of irritation washed over him; he was envious, yet simultaneously consumed by a burning jealousy.

"Zod... I have told you time and again. Do not trouble Assassin."

"Is that so? But my Mama is doing this because she wants to. Isn't that right, Mama?"

"Indeed, Our son."

Semiramis caressed Zod's face with genuine adoration, whispering sweet, affectionate words into his ear. At that sight, a wave of nausea rose within Shirou, and he glared at Zod.

"Just what is the meaning of this?!"

"The meaning of what?"

"I am asking what kind of bizarre sorcery you have forced upon Assassin!"

"You are mistaken, Kotomine. This was Our own initiative. Therefore, do not rebuke him."

"As... Assassin?!"

Shirou stood frozen in bewilderment as Semiramis took Zod’s side and scolded him instead. Throughout the months and years they had spent together, she had never shown him even the simplest of smiles. Yet, to this boy she had met only a few days ago, she granted her lap and even called him her son. Shirou’s face crumbled into a look of grievance, mixed with a budding resentment toward Semiramis.

"What is it, Kotomine? Our son achieved the great feat of eliminating the Black Faction’s Berserker and Saber alongside his own Berserker, and even captured Ruler. And what have you done? Are you truly so pathetic as to stand there with a tearful face out of sheer jealousy? How wretched."

"But, you are my Servant..."

"Do not talk back! You worthless thing! Did you think that just because We cooperated by your side until now, We had become something of yours? How laughable!"

"...................."

Shirou ground his teeth at Semiramis’s harsh words, unable to find a single point of rebuttal. He bit his lip, staring at Zod, who was watching him with a mocking, nauseating smirk. He was mortified, and rage boiled within him, but Semiramis was right.

Throughout their time together, Shirou had never once expressed true affection or bared his sincerity to her. Furthermore, Semiramis detested men who looked upon her with genuine desire. Due to this catastrophic incompatibility, the two were like oil and water, destined never to mix. This scene was the inevitable result of that discord.

"Assassin..."

"Begone! You are a blight upon Our eyes."

"Urgh..."

"Silence! We told you to leave, Kotomine!!"

"No, it’s fine, Mama... Let's give him a chance."

"Our son? A chance... What do you mean by that?"

Zod spoke while looking at Shirou as if he had discovered a fascinating new toy. Shirou scowled, suspecting some hidden scheme.

"Kotomine-san, let's settle this one-on-one. You... you love Semiramis, don't you? Drop the act and be honest."

"Yes... I have always held Assassin in the highest, most sincere regard..."

"Repulsive..."

Semiramis twisted her features in genuine disgust, looking at Shirou with pure loathing, but he didn't care.

"And you? What do you think of Assassin?"

"A trophy."

"..........Pardon?"

Shirou let out a dumbfounded sound, unable to process the answer. Zod sneered as he caressed Semiramis’s face, his smile cold and shallow.

"She is the ultimate trophy to make me shine, and a female vessel to teach me the meaning of maternal love... nothing more."

"You...... (Grit)"

Shirou ground his teeth at Zod's declaration and turned his gaze to Semiramis.

"Assassin! Can you truly hear such things and remain unmoved?!"

Even at Shirou’s cry, Semiramis simply shrugged her shoulders. Reacting to her indifference, Shirou drew his armaments, the Black Keys.

"Just what have you done to Assassin..."

"I simply brought out her true nature. This woman hates herself; she loves men who push forward without ever truly looking at her. That's why she likes me. Because I am not looking at her... only at the shell that is 'her.'"

"Absurd! I do not know what kind of foul trickery you are using to drive a wedge between Assassin and me, but I will not fall for such filthy schemes."

"Hah?"

"I will definitely take Assassin back!"

"I don't know what kind of delusions you're entertaining... but you truly are a pitiful creature..."

Zod rose from Semiramis’s lap with eyes full of pity. She watched him leave with a look of disappointment.

"Our son... could you not stay a while longer?"

"Ah, sorry, sorry. He says he wants to have a go with me, so I have to oblige... right? You genetic reject."

"As expected of a common street thug, your speech is utterly devoid of grace."

"My, my... to think our dear Priest would stoop to such low-level provocations. The world has truly become a frightening place, hasn't it?"

Zod made a beckoning gesture to follow him, and Shirou trailed behind.

"I will surely save you... Assassin."

Those were the words he left behind.

"Utterly preposterous."

Of course, Semiramis only replied to his lingering sentiment with a look of sheer disbelief.

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