A Fake Familiar Reborn Chapter 42: Ball Part 2 (Patreon)

Beta read by Paragon of Awesomeness and GamerCrusher55

Next update is Nanoha and Broly. Also, started to work on the Taimanin stuff but no confirmation date for that.

Also gonna say it now... EARLY HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

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-Bran Castle, Romania-

Dancing was not exactly his strong suit.

Archer had seen others do it often enough, and he might have even done it himself long ago when he was still alive. But memory and practice were two very different things. Standing there now in the middle of the dancefloor, he was not confident in his skill at all. That doubt only grew when his partner was Rider, someone he suspected would be naturally good at this after what he had witnessed a few days earlier at the school with Serafall. Still, as the music hummed through the hall and the orchestra carried the melody forward, the room gradually grew livelier. More couples stepped onto the floor, and before Archer realized it, he and the beautiful purple-haired woman beside him were moving along with the rest.

Their hands were clasped together, his other arm resting around her waist while she placed a hand on his shoulder with easy familiarity. Archer kept his attention split between the rhythm, the placement of his feet, and the people around them. He had no intention of colliding with someone important or stepping on anyone’s foot by accident, least of all his dancing partner.

"Your posture is a bit stiff," Rider said calmly.

"I am trying to compensate," Archer replied. "This is surprisingly hard, I must say."

"You learn and adapt," she said, her tone patient. "Do it a couple of times, and it becomes second nature."

He did not fully agree with that. Given his lack of experience, he doubted that dancing with several partners in a single night would suddenly make him proficient at it. Still, he tried to keep in step with Rider.

"You watch your surroundings far too much," Rider continued with a faint smile.

“Just being mindful of the people around us,” he replied. "I am fairly certain this is your first time dancing like this with a partner. Or am I mistaken?"

"I used to dance with my sisters long ago," Rider said after a brief pause. "But my old home didn’t exactly have many reasons to do so beyond my sisters’ whims.”

He chuckled. “Yes, I would be surprised if the Shapeless Isle had ever hosted any social events, least of all ones as grand and elaborate as this.”

“Plenty of brave and strong heroes did come to try and spend time with my sisters and me, but our time together was… always cut short,” she murmured slyly. “But those were nothing like this. I had to observe what the others were doing and did my best to copy what I saw. I assume you did the same."

"I can easily replicate swords and the skills and stances involved in wielding them," he admitted. "Everything else requires effort, the same as any normal person. Cooking included."

Rider let out a soft chuckle, her voice carrying a pleasant tone that reached his ears without effort. "I know. It helps that you are stubborn."

"I aim to please," Archer replied.

As the music continued, something shifted. He stopped trying to track every single movement and instead allowed himself to follow the flow. The steps no longer felt like a list of rules he had to remember. Little by little, it became easier to move with her, to adjust without thinking too hard about it.

"For an important meeting that decides the future of three powerful factions that have warred for millennia, and likely lesser ones associated with them as well," Rider softly whispered into Archer’s ear. "this evening feels strangely peaceful."

“Please do not jinx it," he responded with a quiet sigh. "Then again, something is bound to happen at a gathering like this. It’s too important for something not to, and with millennia of bad blood, there is undoubtedly no shortage of people who would see peace between these factions fail, even if it means facing Lancer’s wrath."

"Speaking of other Servants, I have a feeling we might see Saber again," Rider said. "Given how things went the last time you saw her, I imagine she holds a grudge of her own."

"It would be nice if she showed some gratitude," Archer replied. "I did not actually kill her, and when you think about it, I actually ended up saving her."

Though not for a lack of effort, if he were being honest. The final attack he unleashed by Breaking Aestus Estus had swallowed the space around him, Berserker, and Saber alike. He had poured everything into that fire, enough that it should have ended even her. Yet her armor was there for more than its appearance alone, and she herself was durable enough to survive even that. There was also the chance her Master had used a Command Seal to pull her out of his Reality Marble, but that was only a guess.

"Until that happens," Rider said quietly, "let us enjoy this moment."

Her tone shifted slightly, lower than before. Archer froze when her lips pressed softly against his. It lasted only a couple of seconds before she leaned back as if nothing unusual had happened.

"You have been doing that more often lately," he said.

"I’m trying to get you accustomed to the experience, and ideally other things down the line," she replied. "I would also appreciate it if you initiated it on your own sometimes. So too would a few others. Women prefer to be chased, not the other way around."

"…Not a bad idea," Archer admitted. "And you’re right about that second point as well. But perhaps not now. I feel like I’d pay for being the one to initiate a kiss with you, especially before giving one to someone else.”

Rider glanced to the side, her eyes settling on a certain busty red-haired Master standing nearby with her arms crossed, watching them closely.

"Fair enough," Rider sighed. "Did you tell her about us?"

Archer didn’t bother asking how she knew. He simply nodded. "I did. It was only a matter of time, and I do not like the idea of keeping things like that secret. Especially since she and I are now intimate."

"I could tell, and I’m glad for her. What was her reaction?" Rider asked.

"Complicated," Archer replied. "I suppose that is ironic, coming from me."

Rider smirked in conformation, but said nothing as they continued to dance with the music carrying on, the second song stretching close to six full minutes while several pairs of eyes occasionally glanced in their direction. It made sense, considering what they were. Servants stood out no matter how carefully they tried to blend in, and curiosity followed them like a quiet shadow.

From the corner of his vision, Archer caught sight of other figures on the dancefloor. Gasper and Valerie stood out the most, though it was clearly the latter who had dragged her partner of choice there. The boy had protested at first, flustered and stiff, but he ultimately caved and simply went along with it, as the opposite would only draw even more attention.

Clumsy and nervous beyond reason, Gasper still tried his best to keep up with Valerie’s practiced steps. His movements were awkward, his timing off by just enough to be noticeable, yet there was earnest effort in every move he made. The awkwardness in his movement did not go unnoticed by many of the other attendees—for he was dancing with the Queen of the faction at the end of the day. A few of the vampires sneered quietly in his direction but avoided doing so openly or even raising their voices at all. They kept their smiles carefully measured, throwing polite remarks whenever both damphirs were close enough and shallow praise whenever they thought Lancer might be listening. None of them wanted ire from the one that had singlehandedly overthrown the entire power structure of House Tepes and all their followers in a single day.

Azazel himself eventually joined the festivities. His attempt to invite a certain venomous queen to dance ended poorly, instead resulting in a glass of wine being splashed directly over his face. But rather than reacting with anger, he simply laughed, brushing it off with casual ease. With a single wave of his hand, the wine vanished from his shirt and face as if it had never been there. He then calmly took Assassin’s Master by the arm and led her onto the floor, as though nothing unusual had happened at all.

At the very least, Kalawarna looked both mortified and ecstatic at the same time, her expression caught somewhere between embarrassment and excitement.

Of course, a few women from the Carmilla faction tried their luck with both Michael and Sirzechs. Both men politely declined each offer, remaining in their corner of the hall while continuing their conversation as if nothing had interrupted them.

Though not a single soul had the courage to even go near Lancer to ask something similar. Archer could only imagine the kind of thing that man must have done to terrify the vampires of both factions to this extent. The only exception was Assassin, though rather than asking for a dance, the Assyrian queen approached the Wallachian king with a fresh wineglass in hand, and the two struck up a conversation, each of their bearing fully reflecting their respective stations.

"I take it this is the part where we switch partners?" the woman in his arms asked quietly as the music began to grow gentle.

"You are going to continue?" he replied, receiving a nod in response.

"It is a good opportunity," she said. "I need to get some important information out of these people for Sona. And I have a feeling they will talk rather easily. To me, at least."

"Well, look at you, showing initiative for your Master’s benefit," he replied flatly.

The cue came, and those on the dancefloor began to slow to a stop. Archer noticed most of them switching partners with those standing close by. He and Rider turned just in time to face Valerie and Gasper.

"Hold on, I was not planning on continuing this with—" he started, but before he could finish, he felt a small nudge at his back. Rider pushed him toward the young woman without hesitation.

She took hold of the thoroughly mortified Gasper instead, the boy more scared about dancing with someone that wasn't Valerie then being near a beautiful woman like Medusa. The moment Valerie squeezed his hand before releasing him, the color drained from the boy’s face completely. He looked toward Archer with open pleading in his eyes, but his King’s Servant ignored him, wishing him the best in silence. Valerie, for her part, seemed far too pleased.

Stepping forward, the Servant of the Bow found Valerie facing him. She looked nervous but composed herself quickly. After offering a polite curtsy while holding the side of her dress out ever so slightly, she extended her hand. "May I have this dance with you, Sir Archer?"

"You are too kind for offering, Queen Valerie," he replied after a brief pause. Walking away now would draw attention, and she was supposed to be the leader of her faction; publicly embarrassing her would only complicate matters. With Lancer nearby, it was better to play along. He accepted her hand, matching the same steps and rhythm he had followed earlier with Rider as a new song filled the hall.

"You’re not usually one for dancing, are you?" she asked.

"Is it that noticeable?" The corner of his mouth twitched, having genuinely tried his best to learn from his prior experience to perform better.

"Most might not notice, but your footwork needs refining since they move around a little too quickly rather than taking their time. Your back is too stiff, and you keep looking around. It disrupts the flow, even if only for a moment," she said with calm analysis.

It was even more of a detailed explanation than the one Rider gave, and he found himself unable to argue. The man accepted the criticism with a small, honest smile. "Apologies. I will make sure to improve in the future. You yourself are quite skilled."

"Thank you. And yes, Grandfather insisted I learn properly. One of many things he’s made sure I learn since he elevated me to the throne. We spent hours practicing together in preparation for this evening," she explained. "You have a similar build to him, so it is easy for me to adjust."

Archer raised an eyebrow. The image of a middle-aged man patiently teaching ballroom dance steps during spare hours to this young maiden felt strangely out of place compared to what he knew of the man’s legend. For someone with such a violent history, it suggested a softer side to the man he had not expected.

More curiously, though… "If you do not mind me asking, Queen Valerie, why do you refer to your Servant as grandfather?" Archer asked, his tone polite and measured.

“Eh? Well, because he kind of is my grandfather.” Valerie reacted by looking at him with some confusion, answering as if it were the most obvious answer in the world with a tilt of her head. Seeing his complicated expression, the girl just chuckled. “I'm kidding. I was just messing with you, Sir Archer. Forgive me.”

Was he that easy of a target today for the women around him? Just shaking his head at getting teased by this young girl, he continued with a tired tone. “Of course you were. Seems that everyone's been doing it lately.”

Valerie looked towards her Servant, who was now in the middle of having a conversation with Vali of all people. The battle-hungry boy had tried to get Assassin's attention as well, but kept getting ignored. The White Dragon Emperor looked like he was barely restraining himself from just starting a fight, while Lancer, fully confident, just patted his shoulders and let out a heartfelt laugh, though Archer saw the way Lancer’s hand was slightly tense and ready to clench down if it came to it.

“I guess, it’s because he treated me like family that I decided to call him grandfather.”

"I see."

"Things before his arrival were… difficult," she continued after a brief pause, her expression darkening from the memories of the past. "I did not have many people around me, and because of my… nature, I was not really very well-liked in this castle. Most kept their distance out of contempt, and those who did not usually only did so out of obligation rather than any sense of care."

"I heard a bit about that from Gasper," Archer replied calmly. "If the treatment he received was anything like what you experienced, then I am truly sorry for the kind of environment you grew up in."

She shook her head slowly. "It is fine. They gave me enough food and water so I could keep using my powers regularly. If I were ever in any danger of dying or bodily harm, they would genuinely try to keep me alive and in good health. So it was not all bad."

Archer did not comment right away. Treating basic necessities like food and water that were seemingly only prioritized because this girl was in some way useful to her abusive family as a form of kindness was something he could not agree with, no matter how nicely she phrased it. From what he understood of vampires, blood purity and lineage were matters of extreme importance. He could easily imagine what sort of cold, controlled upbringing she must have endured, one where survival was valued more than comfort or warmth, and even that was only because she was useful.

"But when I summoned Lancer with my blood acting as the catalyst, since I’m a direct descendant of this world’s Vlad III," she continued, her voice softening. "He treated me differently. I know he looks scary quite a bit, and I understand that he’s… killed people, but he always did it to protect me. And he was kind to me at every point. He never insulted me, never hit me, always made sure I was well fed, made sure I slept properly, and even did my hair when I struggled with it. He made sure I received new clothes when he saw how worn out my old wardrobe was, told me stories, and taught me so many things. One time, he even knitted me a pair of mittens by hand because I told him I felt cold, hehehe!"

The way she smiled so brightly at those memories made it clear how she viewed the man.

Also, Lancer knitting was not an image Archer had ever expected to form in his mind. A being spoken of as a fearsome warrior, calmly sitting somewhere with yarn and needles, was so far removed from the usual legends of the King of Wallachia that it almost felt unreal. Still, he found himself oddly accepting it, having been told more than once how strange it was that he enjoyed cooking and handling household chores without complaint. Preferences were personal things, and even the most terrifying figures were allowed to enjoy something mundane.

"It is a good thing you got a Servant like him. And using your own blood as a catalyst, given your ancestry… that's quite a stroke of genius, even if done unintentionally." Archer said honestly.

He felt her hand squeeze his a little tighter and looked down to see her glaring at him in a way that was more cute than threatening. "Please do not call him my Servant. I do not like that title… even if he keeps insisting on it. B-But I am technically his… M-Master, so by that logic, my word should be more important."

Understanding dawned quickly, and Archer let out a quiet chuckle. She did not see Lancer as a tool or subordinate. To her, he was genuinely family, perhaps the first she had ever truly known, where that link was not merely a word used by her abusers to keep her in line. "My mistake," he said. "It will not happen again, Queen Valerie. How about, hm, Heroic Spirit or just Lancer, then?"

"Thank you, that does sound better. Lord Vlad or even just Vlad is also perfectly acceptable," she replied, the brightness returning to her expression.

They continued to dance slowly across the floor, their steps unhurried. Every so often, he glanced over to check on Gasper and Rider.

It was as bad as he expected.

The boy was completely drenched in sweat, his breathing uneven as if he had been pushed far beyond his limits. Rider, on the other hand, looked perfectly content. She carried herself as though she was not even aware of his distress, enjoying herself far too much while her chosen partner struggled with his own confidence issues to keep up.

Though in a way, it was impressive that the timid boy had managed to keep on his feet for this long without badly stumbling, fleeing, or crying, even with Rider holding him up.

"Thank you for taking care of Gasper," Valerie said suddenly.

"Hm?" Archer responded, turning his attention back to her.

"He told me a lot about you," she explained. "Everything you did for him, and everything Lady Rias has done as well. When he escaped the castle all those years ago, I was afraid. I thought he might’ve gotten killed or met other bad people that would use him like his father. But things turned out well with him meeting Lady Rias, and for that I am grateful."

“What a world we live in, where meeting the Devil in the woods is something to be grateful about.” Archer joked, which got him another laugh from Valerie. "Despite his lack of confidence, he has a good heart. The brat possesses considerable power, even if he does not yet know how to use it to its fullest potential."

"Please treat him well," she said quietly. "I do not want him to get hurt."

He offered her an awkward smile, one that carried no mockery. "Sorry, but that is the one request I cannot fulfill. My training methods for the peerage often involve painful sparring, which comes with a great many bruises and even some broken bones. I understand it sounds harsh, but combat is a harsh and unforgiving discipline. Better for them to pay for their mistakes in an environment where they have the chance to learn. And have ample access to healing magic. Even if I do get quite a few comments about me being a tyrant or the like at how painful the experience generally is, it has worked to keep them alive longer."

Her lips puffed out into a small pout as she looked up at him. "You sound a lot like Grandfather," she complained. "Is there not a gentler method you could use?"

“Well, given Lancer’s legend, he is rather qualified in his own right to teach someone these sorts of things, yes? And if you think my methods resemble his, does that not mean I should keep using them? If I don't, I have a strong suspicion that the next thing I'll see is him locking himself inside his room again, playing games all day, and dressing as a girl.”

“But he looks so cute in those clothes! You can't blame him for that.”

“No, but I can blame you for ingraining such a habit in him to begin with.”

“You don't have to worry about that, it's just a hobby.”

At least she had the decency to look away, a bit embarrassed. In the end, both chuckled with the mood easing up. The song came to an end along with the dance, and he did not have any plan to continue doing this. Valerie was most likely going to go catch the boy before he fainted on the ground.

“You…” He stopped as Valerie spoke suddenly, her voice hesitant. “You will not become our enemy, right?” The question came out of nowhere, carrying a fragile note of uncertainty that stood out against her earlier composure.

It reminded him of the similar concerns his own Master held.

Archer met her gaze. “I cannot speak for the others,” he replied honestly, “but my Master has no wish to start a war unless it means protecting those precious to her, especially not with the vampires. The last thing she would ever want is to place her peerage in genuine danger. That, of course, includes Gasper, and her heart would break if he had to fight a childhood friend of his.”

Valerie released a quiet sigh of relief, the tension visibly leaving her shoulders. She let go of his hand, and both of them took a step back before bowing at the same time.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice steady despite the emotion beneath it. “Thank you again for keeping him safe.”

“And thank you as well,” Archer replied, returning the bow, “for sacrificing so much to grant him another chance at life.”

She trembled ever so slightly, her eyes glistening as if tears threatened to spill, but she held them back through sheer force of will. “It was nothing,” she said quietly. “I would do it again in a heartbeat. Everything worked out in the end. And with you and Grandfather here, I can only see things getting better.”

Archer nodded in both acknowledgement and gratitude. He then turned and walked away, lifting one hand in a brief wave as he offered his goodbye.

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“Well, look who is finally back,” came a familiar voice. Archer had been half expecting this reaction from a certain red-haired Master the moment he returned to her side. Her expression was filled with clear jealousy, even though she tried her best to hide it. The effort was admirable, but ultimately fruitless. Sona, who was next to her, just shrugged her shoulders when he looked at her.

“The night is still young,” he replied evenly. “I would be more than willing to accompany you for a dance.”

That seemed to ease her sour mood to some extent, though she still huffed softly, crossing her arms. “I am supposed to be your Master,” Rias said, trying to sound composed. “So technically, should it not be me dancing with you first? You even had a turn with Valerie of all people before me. Now I am starting to hear some of these other guests speculate that you might be more impressed with her as a Master than with me.”

It was to be expected. Not even an hour had passed, and rumors were already beginning to form, spreading from one conversation to the next like casual gossip. Even among vampires, some things about the people attending these types of gatherings simply never changed.

“Let them talk,” Archer said calmly. “You have always told me that you were never bothered by such things.”

She sighed, clearly not interested in arguing for long. “It would still make things easier if those rumors did not exist in the first place.”

“Archer’s right, Rias,” Sona added. “You of all people should know how common such things tend to be. In the Underworld, we have had to deal with similar kinds of rumormongering on a regular basis; this is nothing new to you.”

“In any case,” Archer continued, shifting his attention, “it looks like we will have to continue this conversation another time.”

Both Rias and Sona looked confused at first, but that expression quickly shifted into understanding as they noticed a certain Servant approaching them, accompanied by Michael, Sirzechs, and Azazel.

“I trust that you have had a wonderful time acting as my Master’s dance partner, Archer,” the King of Wallacia said smoothly, raising his glass of wine.

“Indeed. She is very talented and wiser than I expected. At least from the short conversation I had with her.”

“Thank you,” Lancer replied with a polite nod. “She will be pleased to hear that.”

Azazel, the Fallen Angel Governor General, leaned in with a mischievous glint in his eye. "The Tepes men were practically salivating when you danced with Rider," he said, voice carrying deliberately. "Like scavengers circling a kill, just waiting for their chance once the apex predator—that would be you—moved on." Several vampires within earshot stiffened and found sudden interest in their wine glasses, shuffling away with poorly concealed indignation as Azazel's booming laugh followed them.

Looking back on it, perhaps this was the very reason Rider had chosen to continue dancing with Gasper afterward, doing this while both avoiding getting surrounded in the same way Semiramis once had been and also listening to the conversations going on between the vampires around her. After her dance with Gasper came to an end, she returned to Sona’s side, but that had only caused those same people to gather around that area instead. Truly, there had been no escaping them tonight.

“It is a lively gathering, I must say,” Michael added calmly. Rather than drinking wine or any form of alcohol like most of those in attendance who did not drink blood, Archer saw the man holding a simple glass of water. Were even high-ranking Angels not allowed to consume alcohol, or was it merely personal preference? “This was truly well prepared, Sir Lancer.”

“I only followed the commands of Queen Valeri,” Lancer replied. “All of this was possible thanks to her efforts and vision. That said, I must admit I am surprised that you came alone, accompanied only by those two exorcists, and not with your sister or your own faction’s Master and Servant.”

The blond Seraph let out a light chuckle. “It would be a bit troublesome for Gabriel to be present,” he answered. “Do not take it as an offense, but we prefer not to cause a commotion.” Despite his casual tone, all attention remained fixed on him, waiting for his response to the latter part of the question. “Our faction seeks to keep the peace, just like everyone here today. It would be unwise for us to go behind people’s backs and call for a hero of the past.”

“Unwise, yes,” Sirzechs added smoothly. “But some might see it as a necessity in order to maintain a balance of power between our factions.”

“It seems everyone holds a strong belief that someone in our faction has their own Servant,” the Seraph muttered with a complicated expression. “I wonder where people are getting such ideas.”

“Come now, Michael,” Sirzechs replied. “You are not Gabriel. As the one carrying the title of the Prince of Lies, I can recognise them even with Angels. And it is not the first time you have been more than willing to take risks that made little sense from a logical standpoint.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Michael said without hesitation.

“Tch, you have gotten better at lying at least,” Azazel remarked. No one around them believed a single word of that denial from the Seraph, ironically enough. Still, it did not seem to bother the Angel in the slightest, as he simply smiled and took another sip of his water.

“Speaking of Heroic Spirits, though, I believe there should have been another one present today, right?”

That comment caught Archer’s attention immediately. Even Rias, who had been feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the conversation unfolding among these figures, remained quietly at Archer’s side, listening closely. “Oh, I was wondering about that as well,” Azazel added, suddenly slapping his forehead before turning toward Lancer. “I was fairly certain there were rumors about the Youkai faction appearing today as a surprise guest, or at least sending some form of representative. Am I mistaken?”

Lancer let out a tired sigh. “You are not. I sent them an invitation out of courtesy, given their mutual partnership with the Devils and how it would be interesting to meet the nine-tails fox ruler I've been hearing so much about of late. I believed it would not hurt for them to attend, especially since many of the recent conflicts have taken place within their territory. Unfortunately, the invitation was declined by the lady in charge.”

“Yasaka clearly has her hands full lately,” Sirzechs commented. “They have practically gone silent on us these past few days, especially after the confrontation with Kokabiel at Kuoh, then against Berserker in the Underworld. Not an unusual act since they were our messes to clean up, but the timing sure does raise some eyebrows. Perhaps it would be ideal if we were to check up on them soon. Ah, weren't you two mentioning something about a school trip to Kyoto in the near future?”

Sona cleared her throat first. “That is the case. But… uh, I'm not sure if that is a good idea any longer. We made those plans very early on, before we considered the possibility of there being a Servant over there.” It was rare to see her so visibly nervous.

“I am sure Serafall can make the proper arrangements ahead of your arrival,” the redheaded Satan smiled. “Speaking of which, where is she? I remember seeing her following…”

The Sitri heiress blushed. “I-I had Tsubaki and the others bring her on a tour around the castle to see the sights.”

“So you sacrificed your peerage to get away from your sister, how devilish.” Azazel's comment did not help diminish her embarrassment.

Several glances were exchanged among the gathered leaders, including Lancer himself. The mood shifted slightly, becoming more reserved. “I would have preferred to refrain from discussing this until the actual summit,” Lancer said at last. “However, I suppose sharing it now would be more prudent, since most will become aware of it soon enough regardless.” His gaze turned toward Archer. “Tell me, Archer, how many Servants have been summoned so far, to your knowledge?”

Archer met the eyes of his fellow knight-class Servant and gave the same answer he’d reached weeks ago. “Speaking from personal experience, I can account for each of the seven standard Servant classes being summoned, save one.”

Judging by the way several expressions shifted, others had already come to the same conclusion on their own.

Noticing the sudden shift of the atmosphere through the gathered group, Rias turned toward her Servant, her brows knitting slightly as she searched his face for clarity.

“Master, do you remember when I first mentioned the different classes among Servants that can be summoned during a Holy Grail War?”

She nodded after a brief pause. “I do. The first time you explained it was right after I summoned you. There’s Archer, Rider, Berserker, Lancer, Assassin, Saber, and…” Her eyes widened slightly as the thought finished forming. “Caster. Hold on. Are you saying the Youkai are the ones that summoned Caster? But doesn't Assassin already count as a Caster too because of her double summoning?”

“It does not work like that,” the woman in question replied, finally joining the conversation. “While the Double Summon skill does indeed grant me the capabilities of a Caster in addition to my Assassin skillset, the system itself shouldn't recognise me as a Servant who occupies anything beyond the Assassin category among those that have been summoned.”

“She’s right, though that is only half the truth,” Archer replied calmly.

What he did not voice was his outright refusal to accept Michael's earlier claim of his faction not having a Servant of their own at face value. With the information available to them, the odds of a faction choosing not to summon a Servant at all if they had the means were practically nonexistent. Archer folded his arms, gaze steady as he continued. “It would seem, Master, that we may be dealing with more than just seven Servants in total that have been summoned so far.”

Both Sitri and Gremory heiresses froze, then slowly looked up at him, unease clear in their eyes.

Sona was the first to ask. “Are there other classes?”

“Yes, a handful of them. They are referred to as ‘extra’ classes, seeing as they are not part of the standard seven.” Archer inclined his head slightly. “That said, it is unlikely for even one to make an appearance during a Holy Grail War. There are strict requirements involved for them to be present. In the end, it depends on the nature of this summoning system. Who created it, and what rules were set in place? It could be a Servant class we have not yet encountered, or a case of there being multiples of the same class.”

Rias swallowed. “So there is a chance that there could be two Archers?”

“I do not know,” Archer answered honestly. “It is also possible that the Youkai faction did not summon a Servant at all, and that Caster belongs to an entirely different group. We may be overthinking the situation.” As he said this, he cast a brief, suspicious glance toward the Seraph in their midst who simply smiled back, his expression unreadable and betraying nothing.

The twelve-winged Angel lowered his voice. “Perhaps this is not the best place to discuss such matters. There are many ears listening, and misunderstandings tend to spread quickly.”

“I agree,” Lancer said smoothly, stepping in before the mood could sink further. “The matter has been brought to your attention, but let us not forget that this is a night of festivity, and anything else of import can wait until the actual summit. We came here to enjoy ourselves, not to stress over every possible problem. Come now. Lord Azazel, and you as well, Lord Michael. My queen has permitted me to share an exquisite example of wine that is over a millennium old.”

"Hold on a minute." Azazel's eyes widened as he fully processed what he'd just heard. "Wine that old should've crumbled to nothing by now. The only thousand-year-old liquid I've encountered lately was that hellish concoction Assassin slipped into Vali's drink last month. Poor little shit couldn't leave the bathroom for the entire day."

“You would think so,” Lancer replied with a light laugh. “But I have already sampled a similar bottle myself. The flavor goes far beyond anything I remember, even from when I was alive. I assure you, it is an exemplary vintage.”

“You had me hooked as soon as you mentioned the age. That it’s still consumable makes it worth drinking rather than collecting,” Azazel said eagerly. “Let’s go. What are we waiting for?”

“Hahaha.”

Michael hesitated, lifting a hand. “I am not exactly much of a drinker.”

He did not get the chance to retreat. Azazel wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him along with surprising ease. “Stop being such a slouch. I know you can hold your liquor better than Gabriel can get drunk on soda. I remember you tasting wine before and liking it.”

“That was almost three thousand years ago,” Michael protested as he was dragged along.

Azazel grinned. “See? Practically yesterday.”

As Sirzechs moved to follow them, he barely made it two steps before a sharp tug brought him to a halt. Grayfia had him by the ear, her glare sharp enough to cut straight through his confidence.

“We did not come to this party to get drunk,” she said flatly. “Remember that we have an important meeting immediately after this.”

“Come now, Grayfia-chan,” Sirzechs replied, wincing slightly but still smiling. “I am just going to have a taste. You know I can hold my liquor.”

"You're only trying to run away from your duties. We still have plenty of important people to speak with. Didn't Lord Mephisto request that you speak with some of his connections here? Look at Lord Ajuka, despite his recent worries, he is still trying his best to socialise while you are thinking about walking away."

The man turned his gaze toward Archer, his expression almost pleading, as if silently asking to be rescued from the situation. His shoulders were stiff, posture caught between embarrassment and quiet desperation. Unfortunately for him, Archer only responded with a flat look that made his stance clear. I am not your Servant. Without a word, Archer turned away, already stepping back into the crowd.

Rias tried to follow him, moving a step too late before a firm hand closed around her wrist. The maid stood there with an equally stern glare, her grip as unwavering as the one on her husband’s ear and posture straight as a steel support beam.

"You have been moping here ever since the party started without socializing at all," the maid said, her tone sharp but controlled. "Lady Sona has made plenty of connections already, and I have been tasked by your mother and father to make sure you do not embarrass yourself in front of everyone present. You have a great deal of work ahead of you tonight, young lady."

"What?" Caught completely off guard, Rias tried to pull free, half turning as if to call out to Archer. Before she could speak, Grayfia saw straight through her intent.

"Do not try to ask Lord Archer for help," the maid said calmly. "I already spoke with him in advance and told him to ignore you."

"Th-That's not fair," Rias protested, frustration slipping into her voice. "He is my Servant, not yours. We were just going to find the others! I have not even seen Akeno since the party began. Shouldn't she be accompanying me as my Queen?"

"Indeed, she should," Grayfia replied without hesitation. "Which is why I asked him to locate her and bring her here. The matter is settled. Now come along."

With that, brother and sister were guided back into the crowd, their expressions clearly unhappy with the outcome. Archer watched the scene unfold from a distance, a quiet chuckle escaping him once the tension passed.

It also confirmed what he already suspected: the person he was searching for was no longer in the main hall.

Turning away from the noise and music, Archer made his way toward the balcony. The area was nearly empty, bathed in soft moonlight and the distant glow of stars. The air was cooler here, calmer, untouched by the constant movement inside.

Leaning against the guardrail was the raven-haired woman he had been tasked with finding.

"I didn't take you for a drinker," Archer said as he approached, stopping beside her. His eyes briefly flicked down to the bottle near her feet, along with another already empty.

"I was curious how it tasted. Azazel basically stole dozens of bottles already by stashing what he could under his coat, and Assassin has been drinking this stuff like it’s water."

"Be careful not to get hooked on that," Archer advised, his voice steady. He had not touched a single drop himself, nor did he feel tempted to. "So what's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Akeno asked, tilting her head slightly. The gesture looked innocent, but the hint of sarcasm was obvious. "I'm enjoying the evening like everyone else. Drinking wine, watching people mingle, listening to conversations between vampires, Devils, and Angels. Why wouldn't everything be fine for me?"

"I wouldn't know," Archer replied. "It would help if someone actually gave me a straight answer."

"That would ruin the fun, wouldn't it?" she said lightly.

"You're drunk," Archer stated.

She looked at him and smiled faintly. "Just a tiny bit. Want to accompany me for a walk?"

"Now?"

"No, tomorrow morning," Akeno replied dryly. "You irksome man, that's why I asked you while using the present tense."

Rather than being offended, he simply raised an eyebrow, a trace of amusement crossing his eyes. "Alright, that was a good one."

"I learned from the best," she smirked.

Leaning against the guardrail as well, Archer shifted his gaze toward the forest beyond the estate grounds. The dark trees swayed gently under the night breeze. Akeno, meanwhile, kept her attention on the ballroom behind them. “Oh, would you look at that? Irina actually took Issei for a dance; they both look cute.”

Gazing back at the scene, he saw that those two were indeed in the middle of the dancefloor, moving around awkwardly with neither knowing what to do. But Irina still took the lead while Issei tried to keep up.

Despite their awkwardness, both were smiling and having the time of their lives.

Even Yuuto was out on the floor, leading Koneko by the hand. It was funny to see the height difference between them, but they seemed familiar enough with the dance to blend in, unlike the other two.

After that, both Akeno and Archer silently walked away to somewhere calmer. The silence between them was not exactly uncomfortable. In fact, compared to the chatter inside, it felt peaceful.

"Did something happen there?" the girl asked at last after they went far enough away from the main area. “I saw you all gathering together and Rias going completely pale.”

"If I answer that,” drawled the Servant while giving her a side glance, "will you answer my previous question?"

"Deal," she said without missing a beat.

"Basically, we have a reasonable suspicion that either the Angel faction or the Youkai faction has summoned Caster."

"Caster," she repeated. "The one that is basically the magic-focused Servant, right?"

"Yes. Just like the name implies. They are individuals who mainly specialize in spellcasting instead of close-quarters combat, like, say, a Saber or a Lancer. You can put them in a similar category as me. Typically, a Heroic Spirit with a focus on long-ranged combat with a much larger Magical Energy pool and the ability to set up their own territory."

"I do not see what is so special about setting up a bounded field. That is one of the first things an apprentice mage would learn here."

"Territory Creation is different from what you are thinking of," Archer replied calmly. "The space they create becomes the most optimal environment for them. It is an area where they can exceed their own limits and gain such an overwhelming advantage that even fighting several Servants at once would not be out of the question. Inside that space, they effectively rule the very laws of nature, and physics itself bends in their favor."

She frowned slightly before nodding. "That sounds unsettling. Wait, isn't Assassin also like a Caster too? Can she…”

“She can, and you saw a trace of it before. Back when she had an army of familiars attack the school.”

“Oh… now it really does sound unsettling.”

"It can be," he continued. "Of course, not every Caster will have the same level of ability. Still, you approach them the same way you would a Saber. You always assume they are holding a powerful blade. Or with an Archer like me, you expect ranged pressure. Apply that same logic to Caster. Always assume the worst, because they can easily become the most troublesome opponent in a Holy Grail War, especially if given the chance to prepare."

"I cannot imagine it being worse than Berserker."

"Trust me, it can be," Archer said. "Even if they lack enhanced physical parameters, the moment you underestimate them is the moment you have already lost. In the same vein, I am pretty sure Assassin was not giving it her all during our confrontation with Kokabiel. She never even used her Noble Phantasm."

At first, he had been worried that familiar faces might emerge in this Holy Grail War. The thought of encountering the same Caster he fought in Fuyuki had weighed on him more than he cared to admit. That concern had faded over time, but the possibility still lingered in the back of his mind, quiet but persistent.

"I am pretty sure Rias must be extremely tense right now," she added.

"She does not need to worry too much. It is not like every Servant that appears will immediately try to hunt you down," he said. "Just look at Lancer."

Archer almost added Rider to that list, but he stopped himself. The memory of their first encounter in this world rose uninvited, along with how quickly things had escalated. He let it go and shifted the topic instead.

"Now it is your turn to answer my question," he said. "What is going on with you? It is obvious you are not in a good mood."

The girl lowered her gaze. Several emotions passed over her face before she let out a quiet sigh and looked back at him.

"Hey, Archer," she said softly. "…What do I actually mean to you?"

"Where did that come from?"

"It just popped into my head. It’s probably the alcohol talking," she replied.

Despite her words, aside from a faint blush on her cheeks and the sweet scent of wine on her breath, she looked perfectly fine. Her steps were steady, her posture relaxed. There was no real sign of intoxication yet, though that might change considering she had somehow obtained two entire bottles from somewhere within the castle and consumed one.

"I think I already answered that question before," he said.

"I just want to know if the answer is still the same."

"Why would it have changed?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.

She puffed her cheeks in a small pout, clearly dissatisfied. "Because the way things have been between us lately makes me doubt it."

His steps slowed for a brief moment. "You are making it sound like we are in a relationship that has started to fall apart."

"You slept with Rias," she said plainly. The words made the air between them noticeably heavier. "You are also involved with Rider. You went all the way with both of them, even though I was the first one who made a move. And whenever I tried again, something always got in the way. It is frustrating."

"I suppose I am not the only one with bad luck, then," he acknowledged.

"Hmph. Sure seems like it."

They continued walking, their path more aimless than before. There was no destination in mind, only turns made on impulse. With how vast the castle grounds were, it was easy to lose track of where they were if they were not careful. Even after having done something similar with Rias earlier that morning, Archer slowly came to realize he had underestimated just how large the area truly was.

As they reached a more open section, the space widened into a vast garden that stretched farther than he had expected. It might have even rivaled Kuoh Academy itself in sheer size. The carefully maintained greenery and stone pathways gave the place a quiet, almost peaceful atmosphere.

Akeno moved ahead of him and took a seat on a stone bench overlooking the garden as she stared out at the scenery. Taking the last swig of her bottle before putting it down as he came to take a seat next to her. “I'm scared, you know.”

“Why?”

“This whole event,” she gestured towards the castle at the back. “Had it been in the Devil's territory or even Kuoh itself, then I would have felt some form of safety. But I can't say the same right now. For all the hospitality, everything here makes me feel tense. Even Koneko feels the same way.”

“You don't need to worry about anything. Even if you take me out of the picture, there is still Rider around to keep you all safe, and Lancer is a man of his word. I would mention Assassin, too, but I don't trust that woman much.” As he finished talking, the man felt the ravenette woman's head rest against his shoulder. The fragrance of lavender wafted into his nose while she enjoyed the sensation.

“No, I would much rather not take you out of the picture. In fact, I wouldn't feel safe anywhere without you, even if there were dozens of Riders around.”

He smirked and placed a hand on her back. “Thanks for the compliment. It warms my heart to see that someone holds such a high opinion of my skills. Even more than myself.” With her hand grabbing onto his own arm gently, the girl kept leaning more and more into his space until the next thing he knew was seeing her violet eyes. They almost looked like they were shining brightly with the night sky in the background.

.

.

.

(Lemon start)

“I am tired of being interrupted,” she said while circling both arms around his neck with very little distance between their faces. “I am fed up with everyone who keeps getting to you, even though I was the first one brave enough to make a move… before I had that opportunity stolen from me by Rider. Then when I wasn’t looking, Rias went and ran ahead of me too. Just for this night, for this moment alone, I also want to be utterly selfish and be comforted by someone special to me.”

“How thoughtful,” he commented. “Though I’m pretty sure Grayfia sent me out here to find you. So while I certainly wouldn't mind keeping you company, I am more concerned at not having that silver-haired maid hunt us down if we are a second too late.”

Was he afraid of her? Not really. But he came to quickly learn that she was an equally stubborn individual who took her duties very seriously. But just as he expected Akeno to get back up and head to the main area, she instead looked back at him with pure confusion. “What do you mean Grayfia is looking for me?”

Archer blinked. “I'm not sure what part of that was confusing. She took Rias to interact with the other guests and asked me to bring you back since you disappeared.” Even as he said that though, he felt like he was missing something, given the kind of reaction she showed him at those words.

“I get that, but… I already spoke with her and many of the guests before I stepped outside. I know full well that I would be inviting trouble if I were to ignore her instructions; she's very strict when it comes to such things. Not to mention, she could have just contacted me herself.” The raven-haired priestess said, retrieving her phone she had on her person.

‘Then why even ask him to go find Akeno?’

“Can you give me that for a moment?” he asked, pointing at the phone which she handed over to him curiously. Quickly finding that maid's number he diallied her up, and she did not waste any time in picking up the call. The sound of several people chatting in the background was audible from the other side.

“Took you a while,” mentioned Grayfia, The tone of her voice making it clear that she knew she was speaking to him rather than Akeno, even though he did not utter a single word.

“What was the point of this elaborate plan of yours?”

“To keep her occupied. Or rather, keeping her company for a bit with someone she trusts. Something has been gnawing at her mind lately, and she hasn't been able to focus on her daily responsibilities.”

“The same could be said for the others.”

They just came out of a rather stressful event with his confrontation against Berserker. So it made sense as to why all of them were a bit on the edge lately, especially now that they were at a party with several Servants present.

“I already have the others handled. But I was a person too short when it came to dealing with Akeno, and you were available. It's as simple as that.” He could practically see the woman shrugging on the other side of the call.

“Couldn't you have just said this from the beginning? Why the need for all this deception? I wouldn't have necessarily denied such a request.”

It really was not like her to use such means unless there happened to be more to the whole thing he was not told. Then again, that strict maid also happened to be a Devil, so Archer did not put lying beyond that woman… Not to mention her husband possessed the title of the Prince of Lies.

“Because I did not want Rias to get distracted. She needs to focus on her duties as a Pillar heiress. I am aware of how close you two have gotten, and openly asking you to look after her Queen could have easily made her lose concentration and even try to join you as soon as possible without consideration for her responsibilities.”

He started to wonder if by helping Akeno with her troubling thoughts, Grayfia meant what the ravenette was trying to do at this very moment.

“If there are no further questions, I shall end the call.” So she said, ending the call from the other side in an instant and leaving him with a complex feeling in his chest. And he was confused as to what was even going on in her mind to do all of this.

“Did she say anything?” asked Akeno.

“Apparently you looked troubled, and Grayfia wanted me to look after you by keeping you company,” he told her bluntly, leaning back against the rocky backrest which had been smoothed to make the sensation rather relaxing.

“That's… both weird and sweet of Grayfia.” Even Akeno admitted this felt odd coming from Grafia, before smiling. “Good for us then, that it worked out. Less to worry about.”

With that said, Akeno leaned forward, her lips touching his as he felt her heartbeat quicken. They opened their mouths and explored each other. The oral exchange went on for quite a while, with nothing but the sound of wind rustling the leaves in the garden behind them and some of the trees nearby to cover up the sounds of their gasps. Meanwhile, Akeno’s hands started to move, pulling the left strap on the side of her dress away, fully exposing her left breast and showing that she was not wearing anything underneath.

Ending the kiss, she shifted her head and proceeded to press her cheek to his; moving her mouth upwards, and whispering into his ear with a sultry tone. “Don’t let the chilly wind give you cold feet. Because this time, I’m not going to stop, no matter who tries to interrupt me. They'd be better off just watching the show unfold than trying to pry me off of you.”

Looking into her hazy eyes filled with lustful intent, Archer found that she was genuinely being serious with those words.

He chuckled. “Quite bold of you, given that we have arguably the best view of the castle garden from here. It's only a matter of time before someone stumbles upon us. And this time, getting interrupted will be because of your own decision and you'll have no one to blame.”

Getting caught? From the looks on her face, he saw how little that bothered the raven-haired woman. “I'll take the risk,” she responded cheekily. “I’ve waited too long and I’m too pent up to pass up an opportunity like this. So, let's just forget about the outside world and have some fun together. We deserve this.”

Archer merely shrugged, a helpless smile playing on his lips. “You aren't going to let this go anytime soon, are you? Like I said before, this entire place is open for others to come and explore. We will definitely get in trouble if we're discovered. Besides, we don't need to rush this and you don't have to forc—”

“Don't try to pull that noble concern on me now of all times,” came her warning with a sharp edge. “I am not Rias. Try and play the older gentleman with me rather than fuck me like a horny old man, and I will make sure to break that habit out of you with a rain of lightning.”

“Just looking out for you in case it's the alcohol talking. It's easy to say you don't care, only to then regret it when word starts to spread. It could get rather embarrassing, especially if we get caught.”

“Oh, don’t you worry about that~” Akeno mused, her gaze raking over his clothes. The suit, unlike his armor, was much easier to remove. With just a single movement she cast a simple spell to slice through the front of the fabric and have it break down into particles of light as she exposed his chest. Her bare hands slid across his muscles, with the girl enjoying the sensation and engraving the experience into her memory while the smile on her face grew by the second. “If they wish to stay and watch the show, then let them. Besides, it is not uncommon to see two lovers sneaking away from a party to have some fun in the middle of the night.”

“That’s a rather risky path to take,” said the man, not that he was truly worried. If someone were to draw too close, he would sense them. “Are you planning on continuing from where we left off in the Underworld?”

Akeno hummed in agreement, both of their faces growing closer again before she whispered quietly. “That and more.”

With that, their lips met again. A chaste one this time, if only for a brief moment. An action both of them had grown familiar enough with to step into something more intimate without needing to waste much time.

Finally he relented as he acted as a guide to the needy Fallen Angel hybrid, whose hips were straddled over him, and her dress bunching up around her waist. The warmth from her body melded with his, her chest pressing against his own allowed the man to even feel her heartbeat.

Akeno wanted to have more of this, pressing every part of herself against his and grinding against him slowly as the soft wet sound of their tongues entangling with one another filled her ears — a soft moan escaping her lips.

She eagerly explored every single part of him her tongue could reach. His oral appendage managed to stay in control but Akeno proved herself able to adapt at a frightening speed even beyond that of Rias. Sucking on his lower lip and biting without drawing blood, she did her utmost to give herself some breathing room while mischievously challenging him with her gaze alone.

‘If that's how you want to play, you minx, then so be it.’

One of his arms circled around Akeno’s lithe waist, pulling her closer while his other caressed her face. As their tongues danced in a passionate embrace, his hand moved from Akeno's face to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her silky raven hair. Then, he traced the curve of her spine before cupping her perfectly rounded buttocks, kneading it roughly and pulling her even tighter against his growing arousal.

‘What a ridiculously erotic body…’

And it fell perfectly in line with what he had been told about Fallen Angels who fell from grace after being tempted by lustful desires. Though she was not a true Fallen, he doubted that Akeno came up short to anyone. With the right amount of confidence and experience, she had the potential to equal even someone like Rider.

“Ah~!”

Akeno gasped into his mouth as she felt his hardness pressing against her most sensitive area, the fabric of his trousers doing little to conceal his own desire for her. The roughness from his firm grip on her rear only made her shiver in delight even further, with him discovering how every movement from his side always succeeded at making the girl turn into putty.

‘The alcohol either heightened her sensitivity, or she really is like this naturally.’

Breaking the kiss momentarily, Akeno's violet eyes gleamed with mischief as she shifted her position. Her fingers deftly worked at the fastening of his trousers, and quickly released his straining erection. She took a deep breath as she felt the bare member pressing against her core.

"My, my," she purred, her breath warm against his ear. "Someone is eager for attentio—ah~!”

Another squeeze easily made her react.

“And I wonder who might be responsible for that.” Even without seeing it, the smirk present on his face couldn't be more obvious when he said it like that.

Akeno narrowed her eyes and continued, her delicate fingers wrapping around his length. She began to stroke him slowly, her thumb circling the sensitive head as she maintained eye contact, her touch alternating between feather-light touches and firm strokes.

Archer's hands moved to her breasts where her nipple had already hardened. Pulling the right strap of her dress aside like the left had been, he admired the gorgeous woman in his lap as her enormous, perfect globes were exposed to the night air. Pale and flawless, her large breasts were topped with rosy nipples that begged for attention.

Leaning forward, he captured one nipple in his mouth while his hand continued to pleasure the other.

“Hn~!” Akeno arched her back, pressing her breast deeper into his mouth as her hand on his member quickened its pace. The combination of sensations was overwhelming, and she could feel herself growing wetter with each passing moment.

"More," she whispered huskily, releasing his erection temporarily to r discard her dress completely and tossing the garment aside, leaving Archer mesmerized by her full naked splendor. Grabbing his dick again. Akeno relished feeling its warmth against her palm, and she resumed moving her hand back and forth slowly. He responded by capturing her other nipple, giving it the same attention as the first. His free hand roamed down her body, exploring every curve and dip of her flesh until it reached her dripping folds. With a practiced motion, he slipped two fingers inside her, curling them to hit that special spot that made her gasp and see stars.

"Ahn! Th-That's… hm!” Not prepared for his move at first, she faltered and nearly lost herself in the pleasure. Her reaction once more made him realize that she may indeed be far more sensitive than he first suspected. Nevertheless, he did not stop and took advantage of that window to play with her a bit more.

And her reaction was exactly what he’d hoped for. “Yes! Right there!"

Akeno's body trembled as pleasure jolted through her core. Her hips bucked against his hand, her inner walls clenching around his fingers as she chased her release. The garden became filled with the sounds of their heavy breathing and the slick sounds of his fingers working her open. She could feel the familiar coil tightening in her belly, the promise of an orgasm that would shatter her to pieces building with each thrust of his fingers.

Just as she was about to tip over the edge, he withdrew his hand, leaving her gasping and wanting.

“A-Ah! What are you doing?” she exclaimed, gasping with hazy eyes staring back at him. “You had me right at the edge….”

"I figured you’d like it, being a masochist and all,” he grinned.

Akeno glared at him, yet she felt the corners of her mouth rise. “Are you sure you want to poke this thundercloud, Archer?”

“Hmph, we'll see about that. I'm just getting started.” He met her challenging words head on.

Now fully naked except for her thigh-high stockings, she moved, getting off of him and going down on her knees right in front of the bench where he’d sat. The grass beneath rustled when, this time, she positioned his shaft between her breasts.

“Hoh, trying to get back at me by going for round two?” Archer asked with amusement, only to eat up any following words when an electrifying sensation surged from his groin as she got to work.

Akeno began by kissing the head of his shaft and having her pair of soft, plump lips wrapped around it, her glistening tongue swirling before going up and down to fully coat it in her saliva. Assaulting with far more fervor than she ever did that time at the beach, she fervently worked to break down any sort of defense he had with a frightening amount of skill.

Archer groaned as she pressed her soft mounds together, creating a warm, tight channel for him to thrust into. Her eyes never left his as she began moving, her breasts sliding up and down his length. Occasionally, she would dip her head to flick her tongue across the tip of his cock, tasting the pre-cum that had begun to bead there.

The sight of this usually composed and elegant woman taking control so eagerly — her face flushed with desire — was intoxicating.

"So good… I made sure to improve my skills compared to last time, you know. This time, I'll turn you into putty," she murmured, unable to hide her grin upon seeing his reaction and comparing it to her first time doing this with him. Using one of her hands to pump the base of his shaft while the other caressed his balls, he could tell that she was determined to drive him wild.

His hips bucked involuntarily at the sensation of her soft breasts and the electric stimulation from her lips kissing the head of his shaft. The Queen then even went as far as to sprinkle in playful little nips from time to time.

"Akeno," he growled, his fingers tangling in her hair. "You're playing with fire."

"That's the idea," she replied with a sultry smile, releasing her breasts and taking him fully into her mouth. Her head began to bob up and down, her tongue swirling around the shaft as her throat relaxed to take him deeper. The combination of her wet heat, the electrical tingles, and the sight of her stretched lips wrapped around him while she stared up into his eyes was nearly too much to bear.

Archer could feel his control slipping, the pressure building at the base of his spine. He was close, so close to finding release in her talented mouth. But just as he thought he couldn't hold back any longer, she pulled back with a wet pop, a string of saliva connecting her lips to his glistening erection.

“Not yet~!” Sensing his approaching climax, Akeno slowed her movements, prolonging his pleasure. She wanted to savor every moment, to draw out their encounter until they were both completely satisfied. With a mischievous smile, she lowered her head once more and took him into her mouth again.

His breath hitched as her warm, wet mouth enveloped him for a second time. Her tongue swirled around his shaft as she took him deeper, her lips creating a tight seal that sent jolts of electricity through his entire body. One hand played with his balls while the other stroked whatever her mouth wasn’t currently accommodating.

The sounds of her enthusiastic sucking filled the air with wet, slurping noises that only added to the eroticism of the moment. Archer's fingers tangled in her hair, guiding her movements as with every forward motion of her head she took him deeper and deeper until he could feel the back of her throat.

“Puah!” Finally pulling back, the woman continued to stroke his shaft until its tip erupted, spurting hot ribbons of white across her face, and she smiled at him all throughout.

She looked so erotically beautiful. Marked by his seed, her chest heaving as she caught her breath.

She used her fingers to scoop some of it up, bringing the liquid to her lips.

"Mmm," she hummed, tasting him. "Salty. I like it." With a cat-like grace, she cleaned herself off, her violet eyes never leaving him. "Is this all that a great Heroic Spirit can offer? How cute~! I want to gobble it all up again."

She was taunting him, he knew that, but it definitely was effective. Especially when she went back in and started to plan several tiny kisses and licks all over his shaft, teasing it back to a fully erect state.

Breaking the small rains of kisses, Akeno's violet eyes gleamed with mischief as she shifted her position. Seeing his still erect shaft that remained standing even after making sure she sucked him dry brought a cat-like grin to the Queen’s face.

"My, my," the woman purred, her breath warm against his cock. "Someone is filled with endless energy."

She capped off her observation by enveloping his length with her breasts once again. Archer took deep breaths as he admired the sight of her perfect globes bouncing almost hypnotically while she worked her magic, pale and flawless, topped with hardened rosy nipples that begged for attention.

“Ara ara~ Does someone want to continue to play with my breasts?” Akeno teased him, pressing them together with her arms, making her look more like a bewitching succubus toying with his mind than anything else. “Maybe you want a closer look at them, fufufu~! Mine are bigger than anyone in the club, even Rias. I always know when someone is staring at them.”

She stopped pleasuring him with them and got back up, only to use his lap as a seat once more, swaying her enormous breasts left to right, directly in his face. The sweat on them along with her saliva having accumulated from her recent action made them shine in the faint light of distant lanterns and the moon.

“We could keep this going all night,” she said with a smile, relishing the feeling of his shaft pressing against her ass and nether region. Akeno didn’t waste a second before moving her hips back and forth, teasing him by having the head press against her moist entrance but then letting it slip at the last possible moment — much to his frustration. “You like to act rational and collected all the time; I want to see you lose control and just shove it right in there before you proceed to pound me like an animal in heat.”

Her movements grew more frantic, his dick pushing against her folds only for her to stop once again, and keep this cycle going for an excruciating amount of time.

“Treat this as payback for earlier; it's not so wonderful being on the receiving end of this, isn't it, Mr. Heroic Spirit~!” she whispered near his ears, then nipping them and then latching her lips onto his neck, sucking that part of him while her lower body went crazy.

And she was right, he had reached his limit.

“You won't be able to leave a hickey on me, no matter how hard you try. Now it's my turn.”

Seizing her by the hips, Archer stood up from the bench and took a few steps forward before putting Akeno’s feet on the ground and then spinning her around to lean her against the stone parapet. The garden itself was built on one of the higher points of the castle, and overlooked the forest below as it stretched into the horizon like a green carpet. Akeno eagerly grabbed onto the stone railing, leaving her luscious derriere facing him, which she promptly began swaying from side to side as she presented herself to him.

“Come and claim your prize, big boy~” she teased.

"I'll make you eat your words," he promised, his voice low and husky.

He knelt behind her, his face inches from her sex, her arousal evident in the way her clit peeked out from its hood, begging for attention. Without warning, he took two big palmfuls of her ass and delved in, his tongue tracing her outer lips before plunging inside her.

"Ahn! T-That’s… a-ah~!” Having not expected such an action, Akeno found herself caught off guard and almost lost her balance. Though she quickly recovered, biting her lower lips with an erotic expression on her face that spoke of pure pleasure. “Ah! N-Not so quickly, I won't be able to hold on! Ah~! Fuck! R-Right there! If you keep going then I'll—hn~!" She cried out, her hands gripping the stone tightly for support. Her hips pushed back against his face, seeking more of the delicious friction. He lapped at her folds, his tongue exploring every inch of her before focusing on her clit. He sucked it gently, then with increasing pressure, his fingers joining in to stroke her inner walls.

Akeno’s thighs trembled as pleasure built within her, the familiar coil tightening once again, and this time she was determined to reach its climax. "I'm close, Archer! I'm so fucking close!"

He redoubled his efforts, his tongue and fingers working in perfect harmony to bring her to the brink. And then, with a strangled cry, she came, her body convulsing as her folds tightened fiercely; wave after wave of pleasure washing over her.

“Hah… hah… hah…” Her legs felt like jelly, he could see that, but she remained stubborn and kept standing.

Before she could fully recover, he rose to his feet and wiped his face clean, positioning himself behind her knowing full well what she would ask for next. He rubbed the head of his cock against her still-sensitive folds, but then paused.

“There will be no going back from this. So I will ask you—hn! O-Oi!”

“Gnn-Haaaaaah!”

Not even giving him time to finish his question, Akeno slammed her hips backwards in one swift motion, and instantly had her nether regions swallow his cock to the base.The boldness of her action caused him to grunt with both shock and pleasure, and his hands instinctively found themselves at her hips.

“Hrrrgh…You're so big… aaaah,” Akeno looked at him over her shoulder, the lustful haze in her eyes carrying an undertone of steel. “D-Don't ever ask me such questions again when I should have been experiencing this much earlier than Rias! Now fuck me!”

Despite this being her first time, she once more surprised him by being the first to move. The pleasure she gave him was ecstatic. Archer looked down and allowed himself a moment to admire the sight of her derriere rippling as she rocked back against him with growing intensity, and astonished him with the ease with which she took his full length despite being a virgin until now. And all throughout, Akeno did not give a single sign or even any hint that she was pushing herself to go this hard, for in her eyes there was nothing but an endless abyss of lust and pleasure to be found from this experience.

How else could he have responded but by giving her what she sought and matching her energy?

Tightening his hold on her hips, Archer began to deliver powerful thrusts to the beautiful young woman, producing audible claps of flesh on flesh that was only eclipsed by the sound of Akeno’s joyful cries of pleasure. The sensation of his cock driving in and out of her intoxicatingly tight pussy drove both parties into a rutting frenzy.

The sound of their bodies slapping together filled the night air, mingled with the lovers’ moans and gasps. He reached around with one hand to fondle her massive breasts, pinching her nipples and rolling them between his fingers. And with this action, Akeno’s moans took on a whole new pitch that was music to his ears.

The view from this vantage point was breathtaking; the entire region was spread out below them, the lights of the village in the distance shining dimly, the green forest swaying in the wind, the night’s stars shining down on them like a tapestry. But for Archer, the only view that mattered was the sight of Akeno's back, her muscles tensing with each thrust, her hair spilling over her shoulders, and the way her buttocks rippled each time he pushed into her.

"Hgh…! Hyaaaaaaaaaaah~! Archer! I-If you do it so roughly, I’m… hn!" Akeno tried to keep up and not get overwhelmed, even as her body pushed back to meet his every thrust. Yet the friction, the fullness, the sheer intensity, was all driving both lovers to their limit, and her movements were only growing more wild and out of her control. He could tell she was already rapidly approaching her second climax, her butt slamming against him at an increasing pace, with more force and desperation. And with her growing intensity her walls grew tighter, to the point she had a mind-numbing grip on his member.

“M-More! …Harder!”

He complied, his movements starting to parallel hers. He felt his own release also approaching, the pressure at the base of his spine reached an unbearable level. Akeno had already lost herself to him, her instincts alone were what guided her, as her insides did whatever they could to claim the man’s seed. With a final, deep thrust, he buried himself to the hilt inside her, his seed spilling into her in hot, pulsing waves.

Ah! Ah! Archer! I'm gonna… I'm gonna—Aaah!" Akeno's back arched into a sharp bow as her climax slammed into her, inner muscles spasming almost violently.

Akeno’s eyes rolled back, lashes fluttering while she moaned incoherently, lost to the overwhelming rapture of her orgasm. She cried out her release, her body shuddering as her inner walls milked his pulsing cock dry as he spilled his seed into her. Juices from their union squirted from her filled pussy, soaking down her quivering thighs and pooling on the floor. Akeno's whole body convulsed with the force of her orgasm, her pussy milking Archer's cock for all it was worth.

It was a tight, hot, perfect fit, as though her body had been crafted for this exact purpose, this exact union. For a long moment the two stayed locked together, both panting, their bodies slick with sweat and the evidence of their passion. The air felt like a shock against their heated skin, raising goosebumps wherever it touched.

Slowly, Archer pulled out with a wet pop, the glistening mess of their combined fluids trailing down Akeno's inner thigh. She remained bent over, boneless and spent, for a few seconds longer before he helped her straighten up. Her stockings , once pristine, were now rumpled and stained… nothing that couldn't be cleaned . Her legs trembled, almost refusing to hold her weight, but she managed to turn and lean back against the railing, her chest heaving.

"Archer…" Akeno's voice was exhausted, yet also invigorated. “That was… incredible," she gasped, violet eyes half-closed and slowly coming back into focus, her lips parted invitingly.

He gathered her into his arms, her head gladly resting on his chest as they both struggled to catch their breath. The night air felt good on their heated skin. They stood in comfortable silence for a while, just enjoying the afterglow of their passion.

At least, that was the outcome he thought to experience after such an intense round of sex. For this still remained her first time, and he figured not even someone like her would be able to go for a second round without her body screaming in protest from too much exertion.

She looked up at him and took a step back.

"Akeno?"

“Had I been a bit more bold, or just less hesitant, tt would have been me as your first time in this world, right?”

Not sure how to answer that, the man kept his silence. ‘Where is this going?’

"But Rider came and swept you out from under me. Then Rias gave you her virginity before I could… I don't want to lose to them in making things special for you," she said with a determined face, turning around and bending over the railing again.

Then to Archer’s astonishment, Akeno grabbed onto her buttcheeks and spread them apart to reveal her untouched asshole.

"I don't want to lose out to the other women in your life. Let's go another round, Archer… I am giving you my other virginity.”

His eyes widened with disbelief. “Oi, are you being serious?”

She smirked. “Very. Now please, fill me up, stretch me wide, wreck my tight little hole and cum inside it until you’ve got nothing more to give… Please fuck my ass."

Akeno then released one of her asscheeks as it slapped into place, only to sink several fingers into her dripping pussy to scoop as much fluid as she could gather on her fingers, and then she stuck three wet fingers into her own anus to lube it up. The hole winked and twitched hungrily by the time she extracted her fingers, now very slick and silently begging to be stuffed full of his hard shaft.

Archer's breath caught in his throat, already stroking himself back to full hardness as he gazed upon Akeno's wanton display. Her rosebud twitched and clenched, the shiny, puckered flesh glistening with sweat and lube and the remnants of her recent climax. He could practically feel the searing heat radiating from her eager hole, beckoning him to fill that needy void.

"Are you serious?" he managed to ask, not rushing into things so quickly. Akeno had shown to be quite bold and extreme with such things, but this took it a step beyond anything she had done before. Not to mention this would be another first for her right after another intense one; he feared she was pushing herself too far for too little gain.

Akeno's response was a sultry laugh that vibrated through his very soul. "I've never been more certain of anything in my life." She turned slightly, looking over her shoulder with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Rider may have had your first time, and Rias may have been your first virgin, but I'll have you in ways neither of them ever even imagined. Besides, your body is very honest about how badly you want my ass, so you should answer it~!”

With a low exhale, he stepped forward and gripped Akeno's hips, positioning the swollen, blunt head of his cock against her puckered entrance. She whimpered and pushed back, trying to impale herself on him again, but this time he held her firmly in place.

"Alright then," he murmured, voice getting rougher with barely restrained desire. Slowly, achingly so, he began to ease the tip of his shaft into her tight passage. Akeno's breath hitched, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as she felt herself being penetrated in an entirely different manner from before.

Despite the generous application of lube, Archer's cock still stretched her backdoor painfully to her limits, but for her that was just a different kind of thrill. Akeno's inner muscles fluttered and clenched around the thick intrusion, her body instinctively trying to adjust to the sudden invasion. Yet to her surprise, the initial sting of pain quickly melted into a delicious, all-consuming pleasure.

"Ohh, Archer…" she moaned, violet eyes sliding shut as she savored the feeling of being so deliciously filled in an entirely new way. "It feels so good… Don't stop… please…"

The man gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to just bury himself to the hilt in her tight warmth and start rutting into her like mad. Instead he held himself in check and inched forward slowly, bit by excruciating bit, allowing Akeno's delightfully tight body to gradually accommodate his girth. With each subtle roll of his hips, her anal passage yielded a little more and Akeno moaned ecstatically every time he pushed a tiny bit deeper into her. She made frequent attempts to push back to meet him, but he held her still and took things slow, to her frustrated delight.

Finally, he was sheathed to the root inside of her, his heavy balls resting flush against her still-dripping pussy while his waist was pressed tight to the bountiful flesh of her ass.

“Aaahn~!” The woman let out a strangled cry at her accomplishment of taking his full length in both her holes, nails scratching the stone railing as she was completely impaled on Archer's cock. The sensation of being so thoroughly stuffed, of having her most forbidden and sinful hole so deliciously breached, was almost too much to bear. Waves of searing pleasure radiated outward from her core, setting every nerve-ending ablaze.

Archer paused, giving her a moment to adjust to the full intrusion, trailing his hands up the lush curves of her sides, marveling at the soft, silky yet sweaty feel of her skin. Akeno shivered at his touch, tough yet tender. Her violet eyes fluttered open to gaze at him over her shoulder.

"I-I’m fine. You can move, Archer," she pleaded, voice thick with need. "Fuck me in my ass, please… I need you to ravage my ass until I can't walk straight."

Archer's grip returned to her hips and tightened, knuckles whitening with the effort of restraining himself. With a low groan, he began to move his hips back and forth slowly, bottoming out with each thrust, filling Akeno’s eager, tight tunnel every time he collided against her bubbly ass.

Akeno let out a strangled cry as Archer finally began to really fuck her ass, his thick cock dragging against her tender inner walls with every punishing stroke. The delicious friction set her nerve endings alight, waves of searing pleasure radiating outward from her core.

"Yes, Archer! Just like that!" she moaned, violet eyes screwed shut in ecstasy. "Fuck me harder, please! Make me yours in every way!"

The pleasure started to become unbearable, forcing him to grit his teeth. And since he had to admit that Akeno could now certainly take it, his hips began snapping forward with bruising force as he pounded into Akeno's all too willing body. The obscene sound of flesh slapping against flesh echoed through the empty garden yet again, likewise punctuated by Akeno's wanton moans and his own grunts of exertion.

He could feel her anal muscles fluttering and clenching around his shaft, as if her body was trying to pull him in deeper. This woman was an absolute vision, her raven hair. unhooked and lustrous, spilled out wide and free across her back, tickling his skin at every thrust. Akeno’s creamy skin was flushed with arousal, including her massive tits that bounced with each powerful thrust, begging to be squeezed and devoured; much like the flesh of her luscious ass which was already rippling hypnotically each time his hips impacted against it.

Archer leaned forward, blanketing Akeno's back with his broad, muscular frame. He nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, breathing in her intoxicating floral scent as he set a relentless pace, hips pistoning like a well-oiled machine.

"Akeno…" he whispered, his hand covering her mouth; only to have the girl start sucking on his digits, her tongue coating his fingers with her saliva. “If you keep on screaming like that, someone will hear.”

“Mmph—I-I can't help it! Aaa-aahn! Ah! Mn—Too good! …J-Just let them hear it! I… I don't care so long as you fuck my ass!” she practically shouted, arching her back to press her ample rear more firmly against his groin. "Don't hold back, Archer! I've been waiting for this for such a long time, and I finally have it! I want to feel you throbbing inside me for days after this, so fuck me!"

The air was silent, save for the sounds of their lovemaking. Most if not all of the attending guests were people from the supernatural world, like vampires, who could easily hear a faint sound much better than any human. Not to mention Servants who had even further heightened senses.

He had to keep her quiet and end this quickly, much as he didn’t want to.

Grabbing onto her left thigh, he turned her hips and pulled her leg up, raising it so that it rested on his shoulders, stretching her unbearably wide. Akeno stared back at him with blissful wonder, for their new position granted him better control, enabled eye contact, and allowed his cock to push even deeper into her bowels.

He ensured he had a solid hold on her, then picked up the pace, jackhammering into Akeno's eagerly yielding body with reckless abandon.

“Hoooaah~! Y-You're getting close to your limit too—Mmm!—aren't you?” Akeno mumbled in between her moans, giving him a confident smile that indicated she had no intention of losing. Each earth-shattering thrust stole the breath from her lungs, leaving her a quivering, mewling mess, yet somehow she still had enough self-control to at least maintain her balance.

"Ah! Ah! Archer, yes! Ruin me, turn me into a mess who can't think of anything but you! Have your way with my ass to the point that even when you’re with Rider or Rias, you'll think of me!" she laughed, violet eyes rolling back into her head as he rocked her. "Your cock feels so good, so perfect inside my ass! I…I'm gonna cum! I'm gonna cum so hard from getting fucked in my ass!"

Archer's strong hand gripped Akeno's thigh, fingers digging into her soft flesh as he drove into her relentlessly. The slick sound of his cock plundering her tight, slick passage echoed through the empty garden, mingling with Akeno's desperate cries of pleasure and the slapping of his hips against her perfectly heart-shaped rear.

"Yes, Archer! Fuck, you're splitting me open!" Akeno wailed, violet eyes screwed shut in ecstasy. "I'm so close, I can feel it… Ahh!"

Sensing her impending climax, Archer leaned down, his lips grazing the shell of her ear.

"Then cum for me, Akeno.”

Without warning, he drew his hand back and brought it down in a sharp, stinging slap against the lush curve of her ass. Akeno let out a strangled scream at the wonderful addition of stinging pain to this rapturous pleasure, her inner muscles clamping down on his thrusting shaft in a vice-like grip.

"Ah! Archer!" she cried, back arching as white-hot pleasure lanced through her. "Yes, spank me! Punish my naughty ass while you fuck it!"

Archer obliged, holding her thigh with one hand while his other rained down a flurry of sharp, stinging slaps to her jiggling cheeks. Each strike sent tremors of sharp, blissful pain rippling through Akeno's quivering body, her pussy clenching in sympathetic spasms while her anus maintained a grip that would have locked him in place were it not for the power he put into his thrusts.

"I'm cumming, Akeno," Archer exclaimed, trying to get it out, only for her to snake her hand around his neck and pull him down into a deep kiss while her ass squeezed him and made it impossible to hold back.

With a ragged muffled scream, her climax crashed over her in a blinding wave of ecstasy. Her whole body convulsed, inner muscles milking Archer's cock as fluids gushed from her spasming pussy. Stars burst behind her tightly shut eyes as she was consumed by the all-consuming rapture.

Archer gritted his teeth, hips pistoning relentlessly as he chased his own release. Akeno's ass felt divine, clenching and fluttering around his throbbing shaft in time with her powerful orgasm. He could feel the familiar coil of pleasure tightening in his gut, ready to snap at any moment.

With a final, deep and very rough thrust, he buried himself to the hilt, and erupted inside her orifice in powerful spurts. Archer covered her mouth once more as Akeno cried out her ecstasy, writhing beneath him as she felt his hot seed flooding her abused passage. The sensation of being so thoroughly claimed, of having her most forbidden hole that so many boys and men alike had fantasized about, now stuffed full of Archer’s essence, sent her careening into another, earth-shattering climax when she had barely come down from the last one.

“Hah… hah… hah…”

After that, both needed a moment to rest. Taking a much needed breather, they laid down together on the bench once more, Akeno’s head resting contentedly on his chest.

“…Someone definitely heard us.”

“Fufufu~! I know, which only makes things that much more exciting, don’t you think?”

Truthfully, he had heard some suspicious noises in the distance, that being the reason he tried to muffle her voice long enough for said noises to disappear. He was unsure if it was just a passing servant going back to the kitchen to resupply, or one of the many guests who had gone out for a walk and some fresh air.

Either way, they had disappeared soon after he heard them, much to his relief.

(Lemon end)

.

.

.

(An hour later)

Making their way back to the party after what had just occurred was equal parts awkward and weird. But while the Fallen Angel hybrid next to him was clearly more tired than earlier, she clutched his hand as though his mere touch was a priceless treasure, and she wore a bright smile.

It was admittedly difficult for Archer to not have one himself at the sight of it, and he suspected he was not entirely successful.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks, and Akeno, caught off guard by the abrupt halt, nearly walked straight into him before managing to stop herself. She looked up at him with clear confusion, only to see him slowly turn his head toward her. Without speaking, he lifted one hand and made a firm but restrained gesture for silence, then pointed ahead into the courtyard. The motion told her this was not caution without reason.

With a Devil’s ability to see clearly in even less light than what the dim glow of the moon offered, it did not take Akeno long to notice what had drawn his attention. Her gaze followed the direction of his finger, eyes narrowing as shapes began to separate themselves from the shadow. At first, it was only a vague movement, but then two figures became visible, standing near one of the stone pillars positioned near the center of the courtyard. They appeared to be speaking quietly, their postures guarded.

"Oh my, is that…" Akeno whispered, keeping her voice barely above the sound of her own breathing.

"It looks like it," Archer replied just as quietly.

As they watched more closely, recognition set in almost immediately. One of the figures was unmistakable, even from a distance. The posture, the build, the presence all made it clear that it was Gasper’s father. The second figure, however, was far less distinct, standing slightly behind and keeping its face hidden within the folds of a long robe.

"That’s strange," Akeno murmured. "I thought he would be staying close to Lancer during the ball. Why would he be out here instead? And why are we even hiding? He could just be talking to one of the castle’s servants."

She carefully leaned just enough to peer around the corner of the stone wall, making sure her body remained mostly concealed. Archer did not move from his position.

"I am fairly certain the castle staff would not be carrying a demonic sword," he said calmly.

The statement made Akeno stiffen. She looked at him with widened eyes before turning her attention back to the figures in the courtyard. Now that she focused harder, she could clearly see Gasper’s father, illuminated faintly by the courtyard lights. The second individual remained mostly obscured, but one detail stood out. From beneath the robe, the rounded pommel of a weapon was visible, resting against the figure’s side.

Akeno glanced back at Archer, her expression skeptical. "You recognized it as a sword just from that? It could just as easily be a dagger, for all we know."

"It’s a greatsword," Archer replied without hesitation. "And I can recognize a weapon for what it is upon seeing even a piece of it."

She raised an eyebrow at that. "For an Archer, you seem suspiciously well-attuned to blades. From what Rias told me about what she witnessed during your battle with Berserker and Saber, it makes me wonder if you are actually a Saber in disguise."

Archer ignored the remark entirely. His eyes remained fixed on the two figures in the distance. They were too far away to hear any words, but the situation itself felt wrong. If the hooded figure was simply another guest, there would be no reason to avoid the ballroom entirely. Hiding their identity and carrying a weapon raised more questions than answers.

"It seems trouble was bound to find us sooner or later," he said quietly.

"You really think Lord Vladi would risk working with an enemy behind Lancer’s back?" Akeno asked.

As she spoke, the hooded individual suddenly vanished, their form swallowed by the faint shimmer of a teleportation spell. A moment later, Lord Vladi turned away from the pillar and began walking back toward the castle. He chose a different route than the main path, and soon his figure disappeared inside as well. The courtyard returned to stillness, leaving Akeno and Archer standing in silence where they were.

"It is not guaranteed that the person was an enemy," Archer said after a pause. "They could simply be a vampire contact who did not wish to be involved with the ball. Without concrete proof, all we can do is make assumptions."

Despite the words of reassurance, even Archer knew that it held little weight.

Akeno remained quiet, her eyes still fixed on the empty space where the two figures had been moments before.

Archer frowned.

“We need to hurry back, the summit is about to start, and it would be best to be prepared as we can be with unknown variables at play.” Agreeing with his words, Akeno followed along, yet she never released her grasp on his hand.

She suddenly halted in her tracks.

“Um… It might be best if I get cleaned up first. Koneko will know what we did immediately if I don't.”

“Oh.” That froze him in his spot. Scratching the back of his neck, the Servant nodded. “Good idea.”

{Break}

-Bran Village-

A short distance away from the lively castle, one could find an equally lively village, small in size and population but still having its own unique charm. Amongst the bright street illuminated by street lamps several centuries old, at a small pub with tables and seats arranged on the porch for those who wished to have a drink under the night sky, a pair of figures could be seen enjoying the atmosphere.

At least one more than the other.

“Bah, now this is beer!” a certain blonde knight garbed in just denim short-shorts and a tube top exclaimed at the top of her lungs while slamming an empty pint onto the wooden table hard enough to nearly shatter it. “Much better than that diluted pisswater sold at those convenience stores in Kuoh.”

“Ew, stop saying that. Can't you use a better way to describe it than comparing it to piss, nya?” On the other side, an ebony-haired beauty dressed in a loose, revealing kimono managed to attract several gazes from passersby. Many of them were both aghast and curious about where these two scantily dressed women came from.

“If you want me to stop saying it, then actually learn how to make beer!”

“You enjoyed that sake I gifted to you, nya! Japan may not have the best beer, but my country’s sake can’t be beat if you ask me.”

“Bleh, spicy water is what I'd call it.” It had been a while since Saber tasted something that actually reminded her of Britain. While it wasn't the same taste-wise, the sensation on her tongue and mind turned out to be good enough. “In any case, that monkey needs to come back with more; that was my last pint.”

Kuroka just stared at the dozens of empty beer mugs both on the table and on the ground around Saber, looking both impressed and disturbed. “When I asked you to join me to have some fun, I did not think we would be spending the entire day just drinking.”

The blonde just glared back at the Nekoshou. “I ain't going into another one of those onsen baths just for you to grope my tits!”

“There's nothing to even grope there! I was just massaging them to help you reach your full potential~! Trust me when I say if I wanted to grope you, I’d have gone for your butt instead. Oh, would you have preferred that?”

“I ain't into women, you horny bitch!”

“And I can say the same with you,” answered Kuroka with a depressed sigh. “Why couldn't Le Fay have summoned Archer instead of you? Having such a powerful hunk of a man by my side would have been much more enjoyable. Especially since with him, I would definitely already have a big fat belly swollen with my very own litter of kittens, and boobs practically bursting with milk, nya… I bet he would’ve loved to suckle on them while still thrusting into me. Oh, just the thought of him having his way with me while I’m carrying our children makes me just want to go and jump him right now, nya~!”

“Can't you think about anything else besides fucking? Need I remind you that he nearly killed us?”

“I know, right? When he fought Berserker, he looked so hot! Such power… That determination and perseverance! Oh, just imagine what our kittens would grow up to be like if they took after a papa like that. Black hair or silver hair, or maybe a mix of both… Either way, they’ll be adorable, nya~.”

“What the… Last time I brought up that insane bastard, you were completely terrified just from talking about him!” Saber shouted with outraged disbelief, unable to understand just how easily this woman could switch her opinions on another person based solely on strength and her desire to mate with them. She cursed her Master once again for partnering her with this woman.

But then again, aside from her quirks, she was not completely useless, and Saber did feel some guilt for having nearly killed her back in the Underworld when she was under the influence of Berserker’s Noble Phantasm.

This was a major reason why she even agreed to keep accompanying her afterwards.

“He technically saved you from Berserker's influence, and we still survived at the end of the day. You can't even put the blame on him, as you were also trying to kill him, and that Gremory girl used her Command Seal to force him.”

Well, she supposed the annoying woman had a point there. She did not hate Archer, for she would have done the same, and showing mercy to one's enemy was plain stupid. But she still felt frustrated, for he could have killed her, but Berserker just happened to be the bigger threat back in that moment for him to focus on.

It annoyed her to be pushed aside like that, to be treated as the weaker threat on the field. Also, something about him just irked her for seemingly no reason, giving her the desire to punch his face every time she saw his mug; it was hard to figure out why. “Hah… In any case, how long till we need to intervene and save those idiots when they try to storm the place?”

Kuroka gave her a strange look. “A bit weird that you don't seem that enthusiastic about the plan. I was pretty certain you would have been the first one to be looking forward to this and having your little revenge.”

Saber scoffed. “I like fighting a worthy opponent and crushing them under my boots. But I’m not some suicidal idiot who will throw my life away just to make a point. Don’t get me wrong, I’m strong as hell. But I know my chances when going against like, what, four Servants? Ha!”

“I think they know their own chances better than anyone else. They haven't told us any of their plans, but Arthur wouldn’t have had us join up if this were pointless. I doubt it will be a direct confrontation.”

While that made sense, Saber still shrugged her shoulders. “Doesn't matter to me. Those other guys are all weaklings and idiots, acting big just because they named themselves after real heroes. Meaning when they finally bite off more than they can chew, they’re gonna rely on me to carry them. I want to punch their stupid faces, especially that tall guy… Salsa? So-so? Shitface?”

“No, it's Cao—”

“—Don’t care. His new name is ‘Shitface’ now,” Saber cut her off. “And frankly I just hate that overconfident mug of his, like he’s constantly thinking he can handle the situation no matter who he’s going up against. He acts as if his pockets are full to bursting with his own personal collection of miracles — that bullshit spear can only do so much. I can't wait to see the look he makes when things blow up in his face, right before he comes groveling at my feet and begging for my help. Archer better burn his hair off, or else I'll rip it out by the root. Hah, damn that whiny Master of mine, why did she have to get involved with these wannabe hero losers? And drag me into it, no less.”

As she was contemplating her life, the front door to the pub was pushed open with a tall man wearing a sling ring around his forehead stepping outside, holding several dozen beer bottles, and even one of wine.

“Order up, ladies! Your saviour from boredom has returned, and with something a bit stronger, courtesy of the owner. Apparently, it’s a special stock he got from a depressed vampire that’s been coming here pretty regularly lately.”

“Fuck yeah!” exclaimed Saber with a grin as wide as his. “Why couldn't you have been my partner instead of this horny cat?”

“Aw Mordy, I know you say that cause you love me, nya~!”

“Fuck off! And don’t you ever call me that!”