Koyanskaya, a character who left a vivid mark on my journey.
She arrived veiled in mystery and departed the same way.
Before meeting Koyanskaya, I had encountered many beauties. The Butterfly Sisters, Shinobu, Hanachirusato, Yae Miko, Medea... but my interactions with them were within expectations; I had some preparation before meeting them.
However, Koyanskaya was special.
When summoning the Assassin, I had thought it would be Sasaki Kojirou, influenced by the anime series. Who could have imagined that in the setting of Fate/stay night, a character specific to Fate/Grand Order would be summoned?
The entity named Koyanskaya was not a famous historical figure. Instead, she was a "Human Evil" born within the world line of Fate/Grand Order.
A variable, an anomaly. Koyanskaya presented herself before me with such a face. As a man, who wouldn't pay attention to such a mysterious woman?
In the past, I had been powerless against that ambiguity. But starting today isn't too late.
"Ms. Koyanskaya, you can travel freely between the Lostbelts, correct?" Li Mo adjusted his heartbeat, asking with a calm expression.
Koyanskaya, dressed in her military uniform, walked up to Li Mo.
As a beautiful woman, even the thick winter military coat could not obscure her beauty.
She said, "Of course. Are you, customer, looking to transport some goods?"
"The Scandinavian Lostbelt is vast and sparsely populated, with scarce resources. I lack a batch of materials and delicacies. Could I trouble you, Ms. Koyanskaya, to procure them for me from other Lostbelts? I can provide you with a specific list of requirements. Regarding compensation, we can discuss that as well."
Li Mo handled the matter professionally, pretending not to know her, communicating with Koyanskaya as a customer.
He also didn't need to worry about being unable to pay. His inventory was stuffed with items from various worlds. Upon careful consideration, the so-called system's greatest use was that its inventory could function as a portable warehouse.
Its capacity was nearly infinite. So, whenever there was something worth carrying, Li Mo would simply toss it inside.
The reason he could sustain his magecraft research for over half a year in the Scandinavian Lostbelt was due to previous accumulations. Materials collected while serving as a shrine official in Inazuma, various materials purchased in the demon realm through Medusa's connections in the city.
Although Mystic Eye Killers had no effect on Medusa's abilities, the young girl was still very happy to be Li Mo's friend. The Medusa family held significant influence in the demon realm; just look at her role as the ATM for the little evil god.
In short, through various means, Li Mo's inventory was filled with all sorts of items. But in the Scandinavian Lostbelt, items were only being taken out, with many consumables nearly depleted.
However, paying Koyanskaya's fee would be more than sufficient.
— Establishing a good contractual relationship with Koyanskaya was necessary. After all, I'm neither a shota nor a Beast-class Servant.
"Thank you for trusting NFF Services. I will complete the commission in the shortest time possible."
Once all terms of the transaction were settled, Koyanskaya left happily.
Judging by her demeanor, she might very well start working on his commission the very next second.
Transactions, transactions.
Li Mo hadn't forgotten that in the Tunguska Lostbelt, Fujimaru Ritsuka used a transaction to prevent Koyanskaya from resorting to mutual destruction.
Using a transaction to establish initial contact really couldn't be better.
Watching Koyanskaya leave, Li Mo also pushed thoughts of her out of his mind. The most important thing now was the preparation for "Deification: Odin."
His conversation with Scáthach-Skadi was for this purpose. He needed the assistance of the Einherjar.
However, while he didn't obtain command over the Einherjar, he did gain control over a batch of Giants. According to Her Majesty's implied meaning, it didn't matter even if those Giants were used as expendables.
Ragnarök could be seen as a war between the gods and the giants.
Thinking about it, Scáthach-Skadi's identity is special. She was originally a giant but accidentally became a goddess. No wonder in this Lostbelt, she loves both humans and giants.
It's hard to say who is more important in Scáthach-Skadi's eyes, humans or giants. Probably the former, right? Although there's the tragedy of the Selection Day, that was an unavoidable outcome.
As for the giants... she didn't get angry even though I killed so many of them. Are they really just step-children, then?
Indeed, who would care about creatures that can only act on instinct? The Giants had long lost their reason, living on the earth like wild beasts.
For over three thousand years, even the most merciful mother would lose her "love" for such children.
Thinking this, Li Mo prepared to go and receive the batch of Giants now under his command.
...
"Good evening, dear Ophelia. What are we having for dinner tonight?"
Koyanskaya hummed a tune, taking light steps, returning to Ophelia's side with a pleased expression.
Ah, what could be more pleasing to a person than successfully closing a deal?
"Dinner? Do you still have the mood to care about dinner, Koyanskaya? How did your conversation with Li Mo go? Don't tell me you've forgotten the purpose of coming to the Scandinavian Lostbelt? If so, I will question the Captain about the cooperation with you." Ophelia, unusually, used a lengthy sentence, her hostility clearly dialed up.
Ophelia's attitude didn't surprise Koyanskaya. She said, "Don't be so angry, Ophelia. How could I forget the purpose of coming here?"
"Regarding Li Mo, I am already collecting information."
Koyanskaya was originally supposed to be in the Russian Lostbelt, playing house with that Russian Princess and her Master, right? But communication from the Atlantic Lostbelt prompted her to come here early.
Of course, this was also a transaction. So even if she personally didn't want to come, for the sake of the contract, she had no choice but to make the trip.
The task's content was actually quite simple: to observe the mage named Li Mo.
All seven Lostbelts are rooted in the Earth. Aside from Kirschtaria's Atlantic Lostbelt and Kadoc's Russian Lostbelt, the other Lostbelts all have problems to varying degrees.
If it were resistance from Proper Human History, those Servants, Ophelia wouldn't be worried. Because they and the King of the Lostbelt, Scáthach-Skadi, are opposed in stance. But Li Mo is different.
Ophelia could sense it. In Scáthach-Skadi's eyes, she and Li Mo were equally important.
If she alone had fully gained the trust of the King of the Lostbelt, that would be one thing. But the problem was, there was someone else competing with her for Scáthach-Skadi's trust.
More importantly, she knew nothing about him. He says he's from a parallel world, but is that really true?
"So, the results?"
"Ophelia, from our brief contact, I can sense that he and I are quite similar. Moreover, the threat he gives me is no less than that of Her Majesty the Queen."
"Are you telling the truth?" Ophelia asked.
No less than Scáthach-Skadi? If that were true, the situation would change drastically.
Koyanskaya shrugged. "It's the intuition of someone in intelligence work."
The reason wasn't actually that.
Koyanskaya simply sensed the aura of a kindred spirit on that man.
Even though the aura was faint, flickering, she wouldn't be mistaken.
Originally, she thought the Scandinavian Lostbelt was quite boring. But now, interesting things were piling up.