My Unique Skill is Fate Gacha(DxD)

The night enveloped the outskirts of Kuoh with a certain stillness, broken only by the wind weaving through the pines. The full, silvery moon cast its cold light over the lake bordering the mansion, turning the tranquil water's surface into an almost surreal mirror.

The automatic gate creaked softly as it opened, recognizing the presence of its master.

Kazuya crossed the gates with calm steps, the long shadow of his silhouette gliding smoothly along the stone path.

As he walked, he couldn't help but think about his fight with Vali—it had been brief. And, if he were honest with himself, almost disappointing.

He let out a soft sigh, more from boredom than fatigue.

He couldn't really blame Vali. In the end, the boy was still maturing. As impressive as his raw power and lineage were, as the bearer of the Divine Dividing and a direct descendant of Lucifer, he was still far from reaching the form he would have in the future: the [Diabolos Dragon Lucifer].

In that form, Vali would become a true challenge for him now, capable of rivaling the world's most powerful beings effortlessly, elevating his existence to fight on equal terms with Crom Cruach, one of the Evil Dragons on the level of the Heavenly Dragons, and considered the strongest among them; at that point, he had technically already surpassed the power of the original Lucifer...

But that future had not yet arrived.

For now, all there was was a boy too talented for his own good, but inexperienced and unconsciously arrogant.

Although the fight had been dull, he achieved what truly mattered: analyzing Vali's Sacred Gear with precision. And now, he was confident he could replicate Albion's abilities for himself, without needing to consume the white dragon, as he had done with Ddraig...

Pushing those thoughts aside, he continued on his way. As he crossed the impeccably trimmed lawn, the sharp sound of wood clashing against wood broke the night's stillness.

In the open space between the mansion and the lake, under the silvery moonlight, two figures moved with high speed and skill. Scáthach twirled her training spear with deadly fluidity, her feet gliding across the ground as if dancing. Her purple ponytail followed each turn of her body, whipping the air with elegance. She wore dark jeans and a black long-sleeved blouse that clung to her sweat-soaked body, highlighting the firmness of muscles honed by centuries of battle.

On the other side, Saber Alter stood firm, wielding a wooden sword as if it were the true Excalibur. She blocked each strike with near-mechanical precision, her movements so calculated that no one would believe they were driven by instinct. The gray hoodie and black leggings might suggest a certain carelessness, but her eyes, glowing a fiery gold, burned with a focus that dispelled any impression of casualness.

The two seemed immersed in their training.

Kazuya paused for a moment, observing them under the pale moonlight, before approaching.

"Well, well, the great master returns…" Saber Alter commented, twirling the training sword and resting it on her shoulder. Her tone dripped with sarcasm, but there was something almost affectionate behind the jab: "How was your little meeting with the fallen angel? I hope it was more fun than staying here doing nothing…"

Scáthach lowered her spear gently and crossed her arms, her red eyes analyzing every detail of Kazuya's expression.

"You're late, Kazuya…" she said, narrowing her eyes calmly. "Did Azazel cause trouble?"

Kazuya gave a half-smile and slipped his hands into the pockets of his blazer, his relaxed posture contrasting with the weight of the words he spoke:

"No… we reached an agreement. For now, we're allies."

His eyes then turned to Salter, glinting with irony. His voice followed, with the same sharp calm as always:

"And, to answer your question, my dear majesty… there's absolutely nothing fun about discussing politics."

Saber Alter snorted, the sound laced with boredom and restrained frustration. She walked toward him, her expression full of dissatisfaction.

"Even so, it must've been a lot better than being stuck in this mansion, bored…" Her voice was dry, sharp as her sword: "You promised action, Kazuya. When are you going to take me somewhere actually worth my time?"

She stopped a few steps from him, her incandescent eyes locked on his. She tilted her head slightly, her tone challenging, almost provocative, but beneath the icy facade, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible yearning for battles by his side.

Like in the old days…

Kazuya raised an eyebrow as he noticed this, his smile widening.

"Salter, if I took you out today, half of Kuoh would be in flames before dawn. Patience. Next time, I'll take you somewhere… interesting."

He emphasized the last word, knowing it would pique her curiosity, but gave no details.

Scáthach observed the exchange with a slight frown but didn't interrupt.

"Well, I'll fill you in on the alliance details later… But putting that aside, I'd like to know why you're not training in the dojo?" Kazuya asked, gesturing to the open space where they were training.

The two exchanged a quick glance. It was Scáthach who answered, her tone dry with exasperation:

"Shuten."

A single word, heavy with frustration.

Kazuya blinked, then let out a low laugh, the sound reverberating in the night:

"What did she do this time?"

Saber Alter rolled her eyes, pointing her thumb toward the mansion:

"The idiot decided the dojo was the perfect place to 'test' some liquor she brought from who-knows-where, and, well… ended up melting the tatami while she was delighted, saying it was 'top-quality sake'…"

Scáthach sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose:

"The dojo's unusable until tomorrow. Ereshkigal is trying to clean up the mess."

Kazuya let out a sigh.

"Well, that's not surprising coming from her…"

Then, he shot a glance at Scáthach, a playful glint in his eyes, and teased:

"Looks like you'll have to stick to outdoor training tonight, Shishou. If you want, I'll join in. You two against me… what do you say?"

Scáthach flashed a rare smile, her eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and challenge:

"Careful, Kazuya. You may be my favorite student, but I haven't given you permission to get so cocky."

Meanwhile, Saber Alter raised an eyebrow, eyeing Kazuya with disdain. With her thumb still resting on the handle of her training sword, she tilted her head slightly.

"You against both of us?" she repeated with a crooked smirk: "You're begging for public humiliation, master. Or do you just want an excuse to get beaten by me twice over?"

Kazuya let out a low laugh, the kind of sound dripping with pure provocation, as if the idea of fighting both of them was, honestly, the most fun thing of the night.

"Public humiliation?" he echoed, tilting his head slightly as his smile widened. His blue eyes, sparkling under the moonlight, met Salter's with mischievous familiarity. "Salter, my love… you've tried humiliating me in public before. It ended with you panting on the tatami and begging for a rematch in the bedroom."

Saber Alter's gaze flickered with something between anger and embarrassment, though she'd never admit the latter even under torture. But the slight flush on her stern expression and the brief quiver of her lips said more than any verbal response.

"You presumptuous bastard…" she growled, turning her face away for a second: "Want to get thrashed?"

"Promises, promises…" Kazuya murmured, feigning a dramatic sigh. "But go easy, Your Highness. The last time you tried to kill me, you ended up kissing me mid-fight."

Scáthach sighed. One of those long, heavy sighs that only truly patient or extremely dangerous teachers could muster.

"You never learn, Kazuya. Reincarnated or not, you still have the same stupid habit of provoking the wrong women."

Kazuya's smile didn't waver. On the contrary, it widened as if he were enjoying himself far more than he should.

"I'd say it's a natural talent…"

Scáthach closed her eyes for a moment.

When she opened them again, a menacing purple aura began forming around her body.

She twirled her spear in a slow, lethal motion, her smile now as cold as a winter storm.

"It seems the training from the past few days wasn't enough for you, Kazuya. I think I'll have to show you the true meaning of 'learning through pain.' Remember… wife or not, I'm still your master. And you're still my student."

Salter snorted beside her, but she was no longer irritated. A soft laugh escaped her lips, now calmer, and she stepped closer to Scáthach with a conspiratorial look.

"Yeah, that could be fun. You've been asking for it since you walked through the gate."

Kazuya raised both hands in the air, taking a step back with a mischievous smile.

"Okay, okay, I surrender…" he said, relaxing his body with theatrical flair worthy of a stage. "You win. You can have my pride and my liver if you want. But only after dinner."

Scáthach rolled her eyes, crossing her arms with a muffled grumble of "presumptuous idiot," while Salter snorted as if fighting her own urge to smile and losing.

"But putting the beatings aside, we need to talk to the others." He turned on his heel, already walking toward the mansion's main entrance. "There are things you all need to know…"

He had barely crossed the threshold and taken two steps into the main hall when—BAM!

A golden flash descended from the top of the spiral staircase like a bolt of enthusiasm and chaos.

"KA-ZU-YAAAAA!!"

Before he could react, Ishtar collided with him like an enchanted missile, making him step back from the impact as she wrapped him in a tight embrace.

"You took too long!"

Kazuya caught her, chuckling softly, her face buried in his shoulder as if it were the most natural place in the world.

"Hey to you too, Ishtar. Missed me?"

She pulled back just enough to fix her ruby eyes on him, sparkling intensely, a slight blush on her cheeks.

"D-don't be stupid… I was just… Yes! I was just worried something happened to my worshiper…"

He smiled and, effortlessly, lifted her into his arms as if she weighed no more than a feather.

"Alright, alright. Sorry for worrying you, my goddess. Come on… you've earned a ride…"

As he carried her through the corridors, the sound of irritated footsteps behind them signaled the approach of two not-so-happy presences.

"Of course… she gets to crash into him and be carried like a bride," Salter muttered, her training sword still resting on her shoulder, her expression hardened.

"Pathetic…" Scáthach added, her red eyes narrowed. "In my time, women who did that would get hit with the blunt end of a spear."

Ishtar turned her head over Kazuya's shoulder and stuck out her tongue, teasing:

"They're only doing that because they're jealous. I got here first~!"

"And you'll be the first to faceplant if you keep provoking," Salter growled.

Kazuya just laughed, already used to this…

As they passed through the large glass door leading to the main living room, the atmosphere revealed itself as both familiar and chaotic:

Karna was seated across from Edmond Dantès at a low table, the two engaged in a complex board game.

The Hero of Charity, with his divine calm, studied the board as if foreseeing a hundred moves ahead. Dantès, on the other hand, wore a restrained smile, as if he had already set three and a half traps.

"I see you're still in the middle of your Cold War of pawns and rooks…" Kazuya commented, entering with Ishtar still in his arms.

Karna looked up with a slight nod.

"Welcome back, master…"

Dantès leaned back theatrically, as if greeting a king.

"Ah, the lord of the house returns…?"

On the living room couch, Jalter, or rather, Jeanne d'Arc Alter, was playing furiously yet controlled on the PlayStation, obliterating virtual enemies with terrifying precision.

"If anyone interrupts my run now, I'll burn the whole building down," she warned without taking her eyes off the screen. "But… 'yo,' Kazuya."

On the corner couch, seated with her legs tucked to the side and a dreamy expression, Skadi was eating her third ice cream of the night, this time caramel. She waved her spoon without taking her eyes off the TV…

"Welcome back, my Ice King~"

Kazuya set Ishtar down on the couch, then turned to Jalter.

"Can you pause your digital genocide for a moment, Joan? I need you to go to the kitchen and call Jeanne, and tell Asia I'll need her to start making dinner for me. We're having a little meeting."

Jalter shot him a sidelong glance, a hint of boredom mixed with a touch of respect.

"Only because it's you…"

She grumbled, dropping the controller with a click, stretching in a lazily menacing way, and heading down the corridor.

Kazuya then looked at Ishtar, who was watching him like a satisfied and dangerously pampered cat.

"And you, my goddess… go to the dojo. Call Eresh and Shuten. Tell them we have something important."

Ishtar pouted.

"But I just got carried! Now I have to walk?"

He leaned in, his voice low by her ear:

"If you do it quick, I'll give you some jewels I happened to find on my way back…"

Her eyes sparkled. In an instant, she was on her feet with an enthusiastic leap.

"Consider it done!"

She dashed down the corridor, leaving a trail of golden energy in the air.

Kazuya sat in his armchair and waited patiently.

A few minutes passed until the soft sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor, and then Jeanne d'Arc, the true one, appeared. Her walk was calm, almost graceful, her golden hair tied back practically, with a few loose strands framing her gentle face. She wore a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a simple skirt. A dish towel hung over her shoulder.

Upon seeing Kazuya, she smiled sincerely.

"Asia-chan and I were preparing tea… But I believe the moment calls for something more serious."

Jalter, leaning against the door with her arms crossed, snorted provocatively upon seeing the "original."

"Look at that. She even came all saintly."

Jeanne merely looked at her with serenity, unruffled by the taunt.

"It's always good to see you're doing well too, Alter."

Jalter grunted and looked away.

Kazuya smiled at the sight of the two Jeannes, with Asia timidly entering alongside the saintly heroine.

"Welcome, everyone. Take a seat. We're waiting for the last two…"

As if in response to his comment, the sound of footsteps… no, of something bumping into walls came from the end of the corridor.

And then, floating into the room as if in an inebriated parade, Shuten-Douji appeared.

"Yaaaaaa~ Kazu-chaaaan!" She nearly tripped on the rug but recovered her balance with a crystalline laugh. "You came back and didn't bring me anything to drink? Unacceptable. Totally… inhuman…"

Her slurred voice was accompanied by a half-empty bottle in one hand and a fan in the other.

Right behind her, Ereshkigal appeared with a heavy sigh. Her long golden hair was tied up in a makeshift bun, and her expression was a mix of guilt and exhaustion.

"Kazuya… sorry. I tried to stop Shuten from bringing the bottle, but she was… flying. Literally."

"I can see that…" he replied, raising an eyebrow at Shuten. "Did the dojo survive?"

Ereshkigal nodded with a wince.

"Technically, yes. The floor… not so much. But we're restoring it."

Shuten, still laughing, spun around and sat next to Skadi, who, with a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth, glanced sideways and commented:

"She's already had two glasses of that spicy mix the master gave her by accident and is still standing. Her endurance is admirable."

Everyone was gathered now.

Kazuya cast a calm glance at everyone in the room.

With his usual composure, he began to recount the details of the newly formed alliance with the Fallen Angels.

The Servants listened in silence.

When he finished, the reactions came immediately. Some questioned implications, others suggested ways to better leverage the position gained, but all, without exception, participated in the discussion.

After listening carefully to each opinion, Kazuya began issuing orders with the precision of an experienced commander.

Edmond would be sent to Romania. Kazuya tasked the Avenger with locating Valerie Tepes, the current bearer of the Longinus known as [Sephiroth Graal]. Without questioning, the Count of Monte Cristo listened to the details of his mission in silence and, with a slight nod, set off immediately to fulfill it.

Shuten-Douji, on the other hand, was destined for Kyoto. He asked the Oni to seek out the Youkai faction and arrange a meeting with Yasaka for the following weekend. He also instructed her to stay there, awaiting his personal arrival. She smiled with her usual mix of charm, mischief, and slight inebriation, accepting the mission with visible enthusiasm and quickly vanishing in her spirit form to carry it out…

For Scáthach, he would send her back to Ireland with two objectives: first, to locate the Land of Shadows; second, to confront the Celtic gods and defeat some of them in the name of Chaldea. The Lancer accepted the order without a trace of hesitation and set off immediately, already intrigued by the possibility of a version of herself existing in this world…

To the Hero of Charity, he entrusted a similar mission: to find this world's Indra… and defeat him. The Indian demigod merely closed his eyes in respect, accepting the order and vanishing in spirit form to complete the mission.

He also assigned a special mission to Ereshkigal, Ishtar, and Skadi. The three were to locate a human named Mitsuya Kanzaki, the current bearer of two Longinus, one of which was precisely the one he coveted most.

Thanks to his microgolem ants, secretly spread across the world, Kazuya had already gathered considerable information about the target. Now, all that remained was to bring him to him. Still, something in his intuition warned him: this mission would not be simple. So, he didn't hesitate to send four of his Servants.

And finally, he asked Jalter and Salter to go after this world's Hero Faction to fulfill certain objectives…

And that was the end of the orders.

With that done, Kazuya went to the kitchen to prepare dinner for Jeanne, Asia, and himself, the only ones who remained at home…

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