He Tore Through The Holy Grail War, And You Still Call Him A Dragon?

Ugly Gozen was, in essence, another side of the Heroic Spirit Minamoto no Raikou.

Specifically, she was the manifestation of Raikou's younger self.

At that stage, Raikou had not yet embodied the loving, motherly figure known later. Instead, she was the cold, inhuman "godly" and "monstrous" aspect—Ugly Gozen, the daughter of the ox-headed heavenly king.

From childhood, she was raised by her father Minamoto no Mitsunaka as a human-shaped killing machine. Summoned in this form, she naturally retained that same positioning as a Servant.

If that were all, it might not have been too troubling. But the problem was, Ugly Gozen carried the extra class: Avenger.

The defining trait of Avengers was their inextinguishable flames of vengeance, embodied in their skill "Oblivion Correction." Their alignment was almost always locked to "Evil," far removed from normal Servants. For example, even the weak Avenger Angra Mainyu had once polluted the Holy Grail into a deadly Black Grail.

That was why Shirou found it strange.

First, he doubted that using Dōjigiri Yasutsuna as a catalyst should have summoned Ugly Gozen. Logically, Minamoto no Raikou—the "family hero," the "Raikou mama"—would have been the one most compatible with him. After all, Raikou was the type to fight the world itself if it meant protecting her child.

Second, Shirou was not Yui Shōsetsu of the original work. He had no wish to "save" the world. Ugly Gozen had no reason to side with him in correcting—or destroying—the world.

So why was she here? What kind of deep, unforgettable grudge had brought her forth?

"Avenger, can you tell me?" Shirou asked quietly through the thinning rain. "Why did you answer the summons?"

"Me?" Ugly Gozen's flawless face curved into a smile. "Naturally, for my Master. To crush all who oppose you."

As she spoke, the pauldrons hovering at her sides crackled with lightning. With a sweep of her arm, a long, purple-black greatsword appeared, arcs of thunder bursting from its blade and scattering the raindrops around her like startled birds.

The rain slid from her skin without wetting her, repelled by an unseen electromagnetic barrier.

Shirou showed no reaction. It was the kind of answer a Servant would give to appease an average Master—empty words, not true intent.

He remembered Ugly Gozen's lore. Wasn't she supposed to be good at acting?

An EX-ranked Berserker variant who could still stay rational—just how far could she keep up this façade?

Still, her response made sense. Bonds weren't forged instantly. She had only just been summoned. Though she might marvel at Shirou's strength, it was too soon for her to fully trust or bare her true feelings.

Real emotions would show in time.

"I hope we can get along," Shirou said.

"I hope so too." Ugly Gozen's gaze locked on him, her eyes unreadable.

Her intense stare made Shirou uneasy. He suddenly recalled Nono's simmering temper and realized what trouble might come from summoning a beautiful woman into his home.

He grimaced. He could already see the storm of household strife ahead.

"Avenger, when not in battle, remain in armor form. Hide your identity."

"As my Master commands."

In an instant, she returned to her armored form. The purple-black plating sealed away her delicate figure, the parts locking together with heavy metallic resonance.

Before heading home, Shirou cast one last glance toward where Xia Mi had fled. The rain-draped streets lay empty, houses shrouded in a silver haze. From the distant hills beyond the city, faint light flickered.

What was that…?

——

"So let me get this straight. Your little assistant ran off faster than a rabbit, vanished after a few turns, and before leaving she dropped you a gift—an Avenger?"

By the time Shirou returned, Nono's face no longer burned with anger. Her voice was calm, almost detached.

Leaning against a table, she twirled a lock of her red hair between her fingers. She gave Ugly Gozen one glance, then lost interest.

With her full armor on, Ugly Gozen's feminine voice had shifted into a deep, muffled masculine tone. Anyone ignorant of her true form would assume there was a burly man inside the suit.

"Yeah. She bolted, then I suddenly got Command Seals. It feels like Xia Mi is deeply tied to the Holy Grail War. But oddly enough, she doesn't seem opposed to us. That's the strange part."

Shirou had suspected Odin was behind the war. But if he had gained Master status through Xia Mi, then Odin couldn't be the organizer. Odin would sooner see him dead than grant him such power.

"Hmph. I said it from the start—that girl is suspicious!"

Nono crossed her arms, irritation rising again. "When I profiled her, she managed to slip right past. I knew she wasn't normal."

Her tone was calm, but Shirou could hear the bite beneath it. Melusine's antics had clearly provoked her, leaving her suspicious of every woman near him.

"Think about it. Xia Mi treating you so kindly? Obviously, she has her own motives." Nono's voice softened only to sharpen again. "She's lucky she ran. Otherwise, I'd have stripped her secrets clean."

"By the way, Shirou. Did she say she'd handle the crisis herself before leaving?"

"She did," Shirou said with a shake of his head. But how could she face Izanami alone? Where did she get that confidence?

Nono smirked. She clearly didn't believe in Xia Mi. "Heh. Just wait. She'll screw up eventually and come crawling back to beg for help."

"Are you sure she'll fail? And even if she does, would she really lower herself to ask us?"

Shirou was doubtful.

"I'm not sure," Nono admitted. "But considering the mess outside hasn't stopped these past days, I'll just wait and see. Fufufu."

Her lips curled in a mischievous smile despite her serious expression.

Shirou fell silent. He realized Nono, still bitter from Melusine's betrayal, was secretly relishing the thought of Xia Mi failing miserably and coming back humiliated.

When your own misfortune stings, watching someone else's disaster feels comforting.

He glanced around. Where was Melusine? She wasn't with Nono anymore.

"That little dragon. Tastes sweet, doesn't she? Missing her already?" Nono's eyes gleamed sharply. She regretted teaching Melusine about Arthurian tales—now the dragon thought she was Lancelot, stealing affection where she could. "She's on the roof, in the rain. She doesn't come down until nightfall."

"Oh…"

For Melusine, a day in the rain was nothing more than a nap.

Shirou sighed inwardly. Nono was still too soft. By tonight, Melusine would shamelessly sneak back into his bed. Then Nono would be stuck fuming again.

"And you, Shirou—tonight, you're in my room!"

Nono grabbed his collar, eyes blazing. "Leave your Avenger outside the door. Don't let that dragon in. I want her waiting outside, listening all night! Hmph!"

Shirou nearly choked. So Nono was this ruthless?

Ugly Gozen: "...?"

What? She had to stand outside listening too? Why?!

——

After some effort calming Nono down, Shirou led Avenger into the warehouse.

Rain pattered faintly on the roof. Ugly Gozen looked around the armory, rows of weapons brimming with power. With these, she judged, even a small country could be wiped away.

Shirou said nothing, scrolling through the contacts on his phone. Several names, clearly women, stood out.

"So, Master, it seems you've never lacked admirers," Ugly Gozen remarked from within her armor's deep voice.

"You're not as oblivious as you seem, are you?"

Shirou picked up a long box, pausing at her words. "Even if I'm not, so what? With enemies like Izanami before us, indulging too much in such matters isn't wise."

He wasn't dense—just unwilling to face such entanglements while the threat loomed like a blade overhead.

"True, true," Ugly Gozen murmured. But then, surprisingly, she added:

"Still, matters of the heart should not be neglected. One must tread carefully."

Shirou looked up, startled. Was she… urging him to pay attention to others' feelings? But how could a vengeful, monstrous Avenger say something so… motherly?

The towering armored warrior remained unmoving. "Sometimes, the outcome of battle may hinge on the smallest details. That is why such things cannot be ignored."

It was practical advice, delivered rationally.

Still… was she worrying about his love life too much?

Like a mom.

Wait. A mom… Could Ugly Gozen become like Raikou? He quickly shook off the thought. No. Ugly Gozen was Raikou without her motherly side—only the monster, only destruction.

"Feelings confuse me," Shirou admitted. "But if the time comes, I won't run. I'll face them and accept them."

"…Heh. Good."

Shirou still couldn't understand why Ugly Gozen sounded almost maternal. He gave up trying.

At that moment, his phone rang. It was Charlotte.

"Hey hey! Haven't seen me in days—miss me yet? If you do, press 1!"

Shirou froze. Press 1? And what would you give me in return?

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]

[Thank You For Your Support!]