Almistyor
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Anomaly Ch. 31
🕑 Added 2024-06-15 12:00:09 +0000 UTC"I understand my Lord. I shall be on my best behavior."
Shirou narrowed his eyes at the forthcoming answer. He still nodded in acceptance, even as he watched the blonde elf in disguise. He was no stranger to hiding his thoughts on matters; Came with dealing with inflated egos that could be somewhat backed up.
Still, he nodded. Tuka was surely annoyed by his instructions, built up from the preconceived notions that she had grown up with. And considering she was already several hundred years old, that was a long time with only an echo chamber to build up your beliefs.
He wouldn't entirely say those beliefs were unfounded though.
The fact that the hatred for the Empire went even beyond the elves and into someone like Cato was an indication that said hatred was more widespread than anyone would truly know.
Things would only get worse once they actually met the Princess, he thought. Best to let their interactions be limited as much as possible.
The floating cart came to a halt, Lelei having stopped alongside them. They were outside the town of Italica, Shirou having gone back to fetch the two and escort them should the deserters come back early. That, and to prevent a misunderstanding from the rightly paranoid garrison.
"Halt! Stat-ah! Sir Chulainn!" A skittish man wearing roughed up plate armor came up to the walls as they approached, before his eyes lit up in recognition, "Open the gates, Sir Chulainn has returned!"
A shout of affirmation, and in short order, the gates had been opened. The three of them entered with some fanfare, as the small garrison had recognized his name as it had been shouted from the rafters. More than one civilian came up to thank him profusely, shaking his hand as he passed.
He hated it.
They acted as if Shirou - Chulainn - had already saved them. In some aspects, it might be true. In his opinion however, that wasn't the case. No, he had only bought them some time till the deserters came back in force.
He was no hero. He was taking the credit for being one, unable to deny them. Unable to say anything against it, not when it brought them much needed hope. A rueful chuckle came to his lips.
Once a faker, always a faker.
"Excuse me." He approached one of the Rose Order Knights, a woman by the name of Hamilton Co Igloo going by her sword's history, "Might you know where the Princess is?"
He refused to say her name until he could get his thoughts in order. Especially when hearing the rest of the names of the rest of the Rose Order.
With the exception of Grey Co Aldo, the rest of them were named after his world's alcohol, or some alcoholic drinks at the very least. Admittedly, he had not caught on, despite his experience with cuisine, up until he heard one of their names.
Shirou usually avoided insulting someone, especially for names they have no control over. That being said, who the hell names their child Beefeater? He silently pitied the bullying that the girl must've experienced when she was younger.
"Oh, I was heading to see her myself." With a smile that made Tuka frown, Hamilton nodded at them, "We can head there together, if you don't mind?"
That he could practically hear the denial that Tuka was trying to implant in his head via glaring was still no reason to deny her.
"Aye, that'll be fine."
Internally, Shirou had to wince. He was no Celt, and yet, here he was trying to emulate the one Celt he'd known personally. Both the best and worst person to emulate, if he were being honest.
Cu Chulainn would probably be laughing his ass off if he ever heard Shirou was doing this. Before stabbing him again, for daring to take his name in the first place.
With a reluctant Tuka and a stoic Lelei, the four of them made their way through the trading town. What once was a gem, filled with hand carved masonry and elegant townhomes, was now in ruins. Though, that was less to do with the deserters and more of an increase in refugees.
Shirou didn't know the details, not entirely. They wouldn't just give away that information freely, and if they did, they'd wonder just how he hadn't known in the first place.
He had been more or less interrogated by the Princess after their initial meeting. As much as she portrayed herself as polite, there was no other way to describe what that two hour conversation was. As she said, a Celtic warrior - another commonality with his world that he'd have to look into - suddenly appearing and helping them defend was usually too good to be true.
Long story short, he ended up telling them a story of how he, and his two companions that he had to go back and fetch, had fled from the terror of the Red Dragon, and ended up wandering for a while. When they returned, they'd found their home destroyed by said dragon, and having nowhere else to go, decided to head towards Italica.
Some truths, others complete lies.
Had he been in a different position, he'd no doubt that they could and would have poked holes in his story. With Spartacus' blade though, the limited Madness from the thought of the Red Dragon being an oppressor, was enough to make them believe it through the sheer passion that had flowed out of him.
He could have done without the small voice telling him that the Imperials were just as, if not worse, than those deserters and that he should cut them down right there and then.
That he wasn't sure it was from the blade still sheathed at his waist or his own opinion was a scary thought.
They traveled towards the city center, and bit by bit, Shirou could spot the architecture becoming more and more well-cared for. Interestingly, he could spot more than just humans along the way. He hadn't paid attention before, but now with the lull in fighting, he could clearly spot a lot of…non-humans? Demi-humans? Shirou still didn't know what to actually call them.
Bunny ears, scales, even the occasional fully-red skin. There were a lot more of them than he had realized, and what was more surprising was the fact that they weren't treated as badly as he would have thought.
"Hm?" Hamilton must've been watching him closely, as she peered to where he was looking at. In an instant, her eyes hardened, a chastising tone coming into her voice, "I see. Do you have anything against the demi-humans?"
"Ah, no." He quickly denied, raising his arms up in surrender, "It's just, I thought the Empire and its policies would have…" He trailed off, waving a hand around.
Breathing a sigh and relaxing, Hamilton fixed him a wan smile, "Can't blame you there I guess. Yes, most of the Empire does have racist tendencies against them. Thankfully, Clan Formal, the rulers of Italica, have made the city sort of a haven for them. None of them are enslaved - actually, if I recall, there are no slaves in Italica, none that aren't illegal that is."
The small bit of Madness from Spartacus let off a hum of satisfaction, no matter how nonsensical the thought of that was.
"Anyway, even though a lot of those in power would want to stop them, Clan Formal is just too important to try and fight in the Senate, hence why Italica became the de-facto demi-human capital in the Empire."
Shirou nodded. Thankfully, Hamilton didn't seem to be suspicious to have been asked that. It would make sense that this was more or less an open secret, though one more limited to the higher ups in Imperial politics and not something that a random Celt would know. He just had to be sure of one last thing.
Tentatively, Shirou spoke up as they were nearing the ostentatious manor in the middle, likely being Clan Formal's, "And your stance on them is…?"
For once, Hamilton looked absolutely offended, "Well excuse you! I'll have you know that none of the Rose Order have anything against demi-humans, Princess Piña made sure of that." Her face split into a grin that eerily reminded him of Rin's. She stepped closer to Tuka and Lelei, the former of which had been intently listening to Hamilton's words the entire time.
"In fact, if neither of you are in a relationship with Sir Chulainn, I've heard it told that the lizardfolk usually have the biggest-"
Oh.
That's why.
She was one of those. And he thought he was done with perverts after Rin.
…
"Aaaand we're here!" A bright grin was on Hamilton's face as she led them into the manor, the cart having been left outside. The grin was just as bright as Tuka's face, who refused to look anywhere but the floor.
Lelei was thankfully much more composed, though the notes that she took during Hamilton's vivid descriptions were concerning.
Shirou had heard worse, if he was honest.
The manor they found themselves in was well defended to say the least. Walled, and from the histories he could see, manned by truly loyal men and women. Shocking to say the least, when most of them were demi-humans that had been at war with the Empire at some point.
He could not spot any form of coercion or mind control, so he had to assume that these were loyal of their own accord. Maybe the countess of Italica, Countess Myui as he had learned, really was that inspiring for them?
He'd find out soon enough. They were being led straight through various checkpoints, several Rose Order Knights guarding them. They were recognized almost immediately and let through, though not before giving a wry grin at the still flustered Tuka and the grinning Hamilton.
They entered into a small audience chamber, at the front of which was the Princess herself, and a table in the middle. On it was a map of the entire city, laid out with various small flags pinned on top. When they entered, they gathered the attention of the room, their hands going to their weapons. They relaxed almost immediately after.
"Sir Chulainn, I thought fetching your companions would take until at least later in the evening." Despite her words, the Princess gave a relieved smile while Shirou shrugged.
"Didn't take long as expected, we met halfway along the road." The three of them took the offered seats, while Hamilton went to whisper something to Piña. Judging by her sudden frown, it was not good news.
"May I ask where the Countess is?" Shirou was usually less direct, but he wasn't Shirou Emiya right now. He was Chulainn, Celtic warrior more inclined to battle. Bluntness was only to be expected.
Blinking at the question, it only took a moment for the Princess to regather her composure, "Apologies. This is the second time I've forgotten to introduce ourselves. Countess Myui, I present to you Sir Chulainn, a wandering Celtic warrior that aided us in battle, and has graciously formulated our defense plan."
Locking eyes with him for a moment, Piña's eyes wandered, settling on…a girl? She looked uncomfortable, sitting on a simple high backed chair at the front of the table. There was just no way, right?
"Sir Chulainn, may I present Countess Myui Formal of the City of Italica, and the Head of Clan Formal."
He staved off the shock of seeing a girl that couldn't be older than eleven being countess and bowed his head in respect. Shirou saw the nervous nod back as the countess spoke up, "It is good to finally meet you, Sir Chulainn."
"And you as well, Countess. I must say, I've heard good things about the city. That you have achieved this at such a young age is an impressive feat." He was being sincere there. He knew that appearances could be deceiving, but nothing about the city led him to assume that its leader was a girl shorter than even Lelei.
Either she was a genius, or she had some very good advisors.
The girl gave him a sad smile, "Thank you, but the prosperity of this city was my father's doing. So please, I ask this of all of you, protect his work from those that would try and trample it down."
Killing was something that Shirou was good at, even reluctantly. His job made sure of that.
Protecting was another thing entirely. His track record wasn't good on that front. That being said, if he had to choose one or the other? The answer was already obvious.
"I humbly accept this responsibility, Countess."
He'd be damned if he didn't even try.
…
