Then came the second mote.
Reading its description made me want to tear my hair out in frustration. It was an absolute scam. Sure, it was technically amazing to have five of something instead of one, but it did nothing to address my primary issue—I needed more time, not more bodies! It had plenty of utility, sure, but none of it was particularly useful for my current undertaking.
[There, there. Look at the bright side,] Alex chimed in, her ever-present sarcasm softened by a rare attempt at comfort. [At least by the end of this project, you'll have back-ups. Not only that, but you could repurpose those extra android bodies into actual assistants. Just think about it—an entire team of androids helping you out.]
She had a point, and after letting her words sink in, I finally managed to calm down. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right." I admitted, exhaling deeply. I needed to focus on the silver lining. With Workaholic, I wouldn't even need to construct a separate body for the Director—I could just repurpose one of the extras. That alone cut down my workload significantly.
Thinking about it that way definitely took some of the sting out of not receiving a perk that actively reduced my crafting time. I knew for a fact that those existed in the Celestial Forge. Still, these were the cards I had been dealt, and I had to make do. If anything, I should be grateful that most of my acquisitions had been well above 200 CP.
Was the Celestial Forge a gacha system? And if so, should I start thanking the Gacha Gods? I'd never exactly been lucky with gacha games before, but maybe all those pity points had somehow accumulated and transferred over to the Celestial Forge instead.
Either way, it was time to get back to wor—
[No working, Alex. It's almost lunchtime.]
At her interruption, I blinked and glanced at the skeletal system laid out before me. Thanks to Behold Haxcalibur, I needed to redo everything. I could feel the irritation creeping back in, but I forced myself to shrug it off. I'd promised to take things step by step, and I intended to follow through.
A liar and a bitch I might be, but I wasn't the kind of person to break a promise to a friend—and, surprisingly enough, Mash had managed to worm her way into that category.
Speaking of friends, Da Vinci definitely counted as one. Romani was a tentative friend, though it was probably more accurate to call him an acquaintance. Olga, on the other hand, was technically my employer, but given how much she owed me, that particular relationship dynamic was... complicated. Maybe that was why she didn't chew me out nearly as much as people claimed she would. Either that, or they were exaggerating.
Regardless, since it was lunchtime, I had to head to the kitchen. Mash still needed cooking lessons, and as much as I hated to admit it, she desperately needed the help. I never thought someone could be that bad at cooking. Sure, I'd burned my fair share of food before—multiple times, even—but that was usually due to distractions, not a fundamental lack of skill. Most of my friends were at least decent in the kitchen, if not outright talented, so maybe I had a skewed perception of the average person's cooking ability.
Either way, time to teach.
Entering the cafeteria and heading straight to the kitchen, I wasn't at all surprised to see that Mash wasn't alone. Beside her stood someone else, chatting animatedly while Mash listened, utterly enthralled—like a lovestruck fool. Which, honestly, might not be that far from the truth.
Shaking my head, I pushed my assumptions aside and approached them. "Hey, Mash. Fujimaru...-san?"
The honorific came a bit late—I'd only just remembered that the ginger was Japanese—but if she noticed, she didn't seem to mind. Turning to face me, she gave me a quick once-over, her gaze flicking over my body in what she probably thought was a subtle manner. Then, locking eyes with me, she greeted, "Hey, uh, Evelyn, right? Nice to meet you again. And 'Fujimaru' is just fine. You did save me and all."
She waved off my attempt at politeness, and since she clearly had no problem with it, I simply nodded. Her English was surprisingly good. I'd thought about it in passing before, but it was interesting how no one around here seemed to speak Japanese. Good for me, though. Just another idle observation to file away.
"So," I continued, shifting my attention back to her, "are you here to learn how to cook as well?"
I honestly didn't remember much about Fujimaru's skills in the kitchen. In fact, I wasn't even sure if it had ever been mentioned before. But I didn't mind teaching another person if it came down to it.
The sole Master of Chaldea shook her head and tilted it toward Mash. "Nah. I already know enough to keep myself from starving. But since Mash decided she'd be cooking for me forever, I figured I'd just watch and let her handle it."
At that, I raised an eyebrow. Beside us, Mash turned bright red, covering her face in embarrassment. I wasn't sure if that was exactly what she had said, but if it was, then it was either an innocent slip of the tongue or something she genuinely meant.
And as for Fujimaru's casual admission... well, she either didn't realize the implications or was an incredibly dense pervert.
Suppressing the urge to laugh, I shook my head and got back to work, focusing on teaching Mash more about cooking. There'd be time to poke fun at the situation later.
It took me about three days—three whole days—to finally, finally finish constructing my android puppet body! Honestly, it was a surprise even to myself that I managed to complete it within such a short timeframe. But then again, I hadn't accounted for Da Vinci's help in my initial calculations. Looking back, it was pretty arrogant of me to assume I could handle all the work alone. Sure, the Celestial Forge was ridiculously overpowered, but its early-game abilities weren't exactly amazing. Especially considering how random it was—sometimes going days without a single new mote. And even if I somehow managed to acquire a 1000 CP-tier mote, I'd not only have to be rolling at that level consistently but also be incredibly lucky just to survive long enough to benefit from it.
Anyway, thanks to Da Vinci's assistance—especially with the grueling trial-and-error process—I finally managed to create my very own path to immortality! Also, I know I've shit on Workaholic before, but damn, was it a godsend during this entire ordeal. We had to go through so many iterations, testing different designs, making endless adjustments, and, of course, dealing with the numerous puppet guinea pigs. Thankfully, Chaldea had an overabundance of them, courtesy of the many scientists and maguses… magusi? Whatever. Honestly, I completely forgot I needed test subjects before moving on to myself. After a lot of tweaking, countless headaches, and more hair-pulling than I'd like to admit, we finally cracked the code to immortality!
Now, I have an android body that should, hopefully, be on par with one of the weakest Saber-class Servants. Unfortunately, since I wasn't a Servant myself, Fujimaru couldn't check my parameters. Still, I had confidence in my durability. My subdermal armor—hidden beneath my synthetic skin—was as tough as Holy Stones thanks to Conceptual Fertilization, and most of my internal structure was similarly reinforced. I was fairly sure I could withstand an attack from Artoria… if she held back. A lot. Hopefully. Yeah, I was basically crossing my fingers for my own body's durability.
Actually, now that I think about it, would it have been possible to get a shaving off Lord Chaldeas? That shield managed to block a full-force Noble Phantasm blast from one of the most famous and powerful Servants in the entire Fate fran—
[Stop thinking about that, Eve. You're spiraling again.]
With Alex cutting off my thoughts, I took a deep breath… then slowly exhaled.
"Thanks, Alex." I muttered, grateful for my AI's intervention. If we survived and managed to fix the second Singularity, I was absolutely going to build her an android body of her own.
[You better. It's pretty damn annoying feeling all your orgasms without having my own body.]
I winced at my companion's blunt remark, immensely relieved that no one else was around to hear that. If Alex had a physical body, I would've smacked it. But since she didn't, and I wasn't about to slap myself—even with my enhanced body—just so she could feel pain, I let it slide. Also, I wasn't going to apologize for my occasional masturbation. I was constantly stressed beyond belief, and I needed an outlet. Plus, after integrating my mind into the android body—thanks to Da Vinci's heavy use of hypnotism and Alex's coding magic ensuring my artificial brain properly linked with my real one—I had to verify that everything functioned as intended. And yes, that meant checking if my cybernetic pussy worked.
It did.
Extremely well, in fact.
Apparently, the Cyberpunk dimension was filled with degenerates, and I had unknowingly used the highest-quality schematic available. A horrifying amount of modifications were designed purely for pleasure. Did you know that a cybernetic pussy can fucking spin!?
Anyway, at the moment, I was giving my body one last thorough inspection, just to be absolutely certain everything was working correctly. I was confident there were no issues, but quadruple-checking never hurt. Before I could finish, though, the Celestial Forge suddenly flared to life for the first time in three days!
Despite being in a new body, my soul-self still existed within my mind's eye, allowing me to observe as a tendril shot out toward the Clothing Skills Constellation. I wasn't particularly excited about this at first—sure, a perk related to clothing sounded nice, but it wasn't exactly game-changing. Still, I wouldn't say no to an upgrade, especially considering how sick and tired I was of wearing nothing but plain shirts and overalls.
But then, the tendril latched onto something—something I never in a million years would've expected from a constellation related to clothing. And as the mote integrated itself into my being, I realized just how much my wardrobe—and my entire situation—was about to change.
Incredibly Talented (In Another World With My Smartphone) (400CP)There is one area in which you truly shine. Pick a single skill or talent such as hand to hand, swordsmanship, magical innovation, alchemy, or similar focus. You are now, hands down, one of the best people in the world in that subject. An alchemist could come up with all sorts of new alchemical concoctions and potions that would astound and amaze your peers, a swordsman could cut down a hundred men on his own nearly effortlessly, a magical innovator could create new spells or rituals or magical items with unsurpassed vision and creativity, and similar such potency applies to any other skill or focus you take with this perk. Beyond that however you will always be able to refine your focus, allowing you to push yourself to greater and greater heights no matter how skilled you become. You may purchase this perk more than one, but it must apply to a new skill or focus each time it is taken.
* Its a uncapper which is pretty unique and nice
Points banked: 100 CP
SpoilerClick to expand...
Out of all the motes I had received, this one had to be at the top of the list for being the most bullshit. I mean, seriously, how in any way was this even remotely related to fucking clothing!? I reread the description multiple times, purely because of how absurd it was, but eventually, I came to the conclusion that it was best not to question the Celestial Forge and instead focus on what I should actually get for myself.
Thankfully, there was a list available—one that I promptly opened and began scrolling through. Each time I spotted something interesting, I took the time to carefully weigh the pros and cons before instructing Alex to note its location. Only then would I move on to search for other potential choices. First and foremost, I had to think about what I needed the most.
Incredibly Talented was an outright broken perk—one that would instantly make me a master at whatever I chose. But I had to seriously consider what I truly needed at this moment, particularly something that I wouldn't be able to obtain through the Celestial Forge itself. I wasn't entirely sure whether this perk was an outlier, but I was fairly confident that the Celestial Forge didn't usually grant combat-related perks—or if it did, they were extremely rare.
Since the Celestial Forge primarily focused on creation, anything related to crafting, alchemy, magitech, or similar fields was immediately ruled out. And yeah, I really, really wanted to become an instant master at weapon creation, but let's be real—I was bound to obtain something from the Celestial Forge that would eventually fill in that gap anyway. So, with crafting off the table, I shifted my focus toward anything that could enhance my combat abilities.
Honestly, the idea of instantly becoming a Master at magecraft was incredibly tempting. But after some back-and-forth with Alex, I ultimately decided against it. Sure, being able to cast magic effortlessly was appealing, but Alex pointed out that magecraft was something I could always learn at my own pace—especially now that I had Artificial Magic Circuits. Plus, the Celestial Forge had an entire constellation dedicated to Magic, which meant I could still gain powerful magic-related perks in the future. With that option discarded, all that remained were the physical means to fight.
There were plenty of options—Swordsmanship, Archery, Spearmanship, and the like—but given my preferred fighting style, I eventually settled on Close-Quarter-Combat combat. Yes, I had other choices, like Brawling, Taekwondo, and Boxing, but Hand-to-Hand combat was far more versatile and creative. It wouldn't lock me into a specific discipline, and if I kept training, I could eventually incorporate weapons into my combat style as well.
After another round of deliberation with Alex—because I was still hesitant about giving up instant Magic Mastery—I finally settled on Hand-to-Hand combat. The moment I made my choice, I was flooded with an overwhelming surge of knowledge and experience, granting me the ability to take on entire armies with just my body alone... and, of course, a splitting headache that had me writhing on the floor.
"Fucking... hell..." I groaned, clutching my head as the pain gradually subsided. But even through the discomfort, a grin spread across my face. This was it—this was the key to eliminating my inexperience. No longer would I have to rely purely on instinct. And for once, even the missed connection with the Celestial Forge didn't bother me. Not one bit.
For a while, I simply sat in front of the mirror, replaying memories that weren't mine, absorbing the techniques, analyzing ways to improve them. It was then that I realized how Artiste actually complemented my newfound skills. After all, in some sense, Battling and War could be considered forms of Art.
Eventually, I pushed myself to my feet and refocused on what I was originally doing. Staring into the mirror, I took in my appearance. At first glance, I didn't look any different—well, maybe a bit more beautiful, thanks to Artiste and Pure Art—but I knew the truth. Beneath this synthetic skin, which was virtually indistinguishable from my own, was a hidden arsenal of pure, unadulterated lethality.
Due to time constraints, I hadn't been able to add as much as I wanted, but what I did have was more than enough. Inside my wrists were mono-wires. Embedded in each arm was a mantis blade. My palms housed a concealed plasma laser. Every fingertip had retractable claws. My legs contained a piston system for an extra burst of power. And nestled within my spine? A goddamn Sandevistan.
Sure, all these cybernetics meant I had to abandon the idea of wearing gauntlets, but honestly? That was a sacrifice I wasn't going to lose sleep over.
Now, having checked myself, it was time to deal with the Servant Summoning.
-*-Olga's POV-*-
Having a near-death experience—or, well, technically, I did die—changes you. It wasn't just the trauma that altered me, but the way my entire life flashed before my eyes in those final moments. Before I could have been pulled towards CHALDEAS, I saw my past play out in an instant. It wasn't some heartwarming, nostalgic trip down memory lane; no, it was more like a grim highlight reel reminding me of just how much of a bitch I had been and how much of a bastard my father was.
Deep down, I knew I had always craved his approval, but in that fleeting moment, I saw things differently. I realized just how much I wanted to flip the bastard off for everything he put me through. Maybe this was just my time for "Character Development," as one of the younger staff members had whispered behind my back. I never really paid attention to those who gossiped about me, so I had no clue if they had survived or not. Not that it really mattered. Shaking my head, I pushed away those thoughts. Introspection could come later—right now, I had more pressing matters to deal with.
As I shook my head, I caught my reflection in the window and found myself staring. If I were being honest, I had been skeptical of Miss Evelyn's claims. I had resigned myself to the idea that I would be stuck in a robotic puppet until we managed to fix all the Singularities. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that the blonde woman's promise would come true—and in just a week, no less!
Looking at myself now, I saw virtually no difference between my original body and this "android" puppet she had created, which was apparently a more modern take on homunculi. In all honesty, I was absolutely over the moon with this new body. Sure, I wished I hadn't had to experience Death firsthand, but this was certainly an upgrade from my previous body. Not only was I effectively immortal—at least until Miss Evelyn made more backups for me, which was a weird thought in itself—but I was also, quite possibly, as durable as a Servant. The proper data was still lacking, but both Da Vinci and Miss Evelyn were quite confident that my subdermal armor was stronger than steel.
And that wasn't even the best part. I had a set of dangerous hidden weapons embedded within my limbs, which honestly made me a little giddy. But what truly took the cake was the quality of my Artificial Magic Circuits. They far surpassed my original ones, which had already been considered "top-notch" by Cu Caster. Now, I could cast Gandr about half a thousand times before needing to replace my Magic Battery. Compared to what I could do in the past, this was a massive improvement.
And then, the greatest surprise of all: I could actually be a Master. It was ironic, really, that the best thing to ever happen to me was Death.
But there was no time to dwell on that now. These thoughts could wait for another time. Right now, I had to focus on overseeing the summoning of a Servant. This was an incredibly important event, especially since we were about to test whether Miss Evelyn's Arc Reactor could actually fuel the existence of Servants.
Though, to be completely honest, that woman scared me.
At first, I assumed she was just an eccentric scientist, the last one left to help Da Vinci keep things running. But I quickly realized that she was absolutely insane. I mean, who on Earth could create an infinite source of energy out of nowhere!? And not only that, but if her Arc Reactor, which was just "normal" energy, wasn't enough, she outright claimed that she would just convert that "normal" energy into magical energy. That level of absurdity was borderline terrifying. It was a claim that nearly brushed up against the First True Magic itself.
Yet, after everything she had already done—providing us with infinite resources to rebuild CHALDEA, her future inventions, and, oh yeah, achieving immortality—I really shouldn't have been surprised anymore.
Besides, I was of the opinion that the First True Magic was a hoax anyway, just a practical joke Zelretch created to amuse himself by making his own Magic the "Second." A satirical theory among younger magi, sure, but one I wholeheartedly subscribed to—because honestly, it was funnier that way.
Regardless, putting aside how Miss Evelyn could generate an infinite amount of magical energy at will, the only reason she hadn't integrated it into our bodies yet was that she hadn't found a way for us to harness it safely without, well, exploding.
And now, the moment had finally arrived. It was time to summon a Servant.
-*-Evelyn's POV-*-
"So, I'm going first?" I asked Da Vinci, who stood in front of a panel, her attention fully focused on ensuring everything went smoothly.
"Yes. Initially, Fujimaru-chan was supposed to go first, but due to some recent developments, we had to change our plans," the Servant responded, her eyes never leaving the panel.
Raising an eyebrow, I questioned, "And why's that?" As far as I knew, it was never explicitly shown how Fujimaru summoned Servants within Chaldea. If it was ever depicted, it must have been further along in the series. That left me wondering—was this complication due to me, or was it simply part of the narrative?
"Somehow, despite no one taking any direct action, we managed to get a read on the corrupted Saber's Saint Graph and..." Da Vinci trailed off. But I understood the implication immediately. Having been taught by Da Vinci about magecraft and all things related to Chaldea, I knew how Saint Graphs worked. They served as the foundation of every spirit. When a Servant within a Singularity was analyzed, we could extract their Saint Graph, which was incredibly useful since it allowed us to discern their weaknesses, strengths, and—most importantly—potentially summon them.
And, judging by Da Vinci's words, they were planning on having me summon Saber Alter. That was seriously fucking stupid. My thoughts must have been plain as day because Da Vinci winced when she glanced at me.
"I know, I know. It's a reckless move. But despite your current strengths, we're still uncertain about the full extent of your capabilities. Having an extra Servant—especially one as powerful as her—would be a significant advantage..." She deliberately avoided mentioning the obvious: that said Servant was a cold, ruthless tyrant who had nearly killed both Mash and Fujimaru before.
I met Da Vinci's gaze, my eyes boring into hers. For a long moment, we just stared at one another before I exhaled heavily and began preparing myself.
"Alright, alright..." My reluctance was clear, but I would follow along—for now.
"Thank you, Evelyn. Really." Her gratitude was evident, but I could hear the subtle trace of guilt beneath her words. I merely nodded in response, steeling myself for the Summoning.
"We're ready whenever you are, Miss Evelyn." The Director's voice rang out through the speakers.
Drawing in a deep breath, I activated my circuits, savoring the sensation of magic thrumming through my veins. It was a sensation that never ceased to thrill me. Raising my hand, I began the incantation:
"I call forth to the present,
To the heroes of legend,
Through wishes made manifest.
Stand before me—answer the call."
The summoning circle flickered to life, pulsing with a faint glow.
"One bound to history.
One born from myth.
One who shaped the course of civilization.
These are the final cries of humanity."
The magic thickened in the air, growing heavier, more tangible. The glow of the summoning circle intensified, but my eyes remained fixed on it, unwavering.
"Upon the precipice of fate, at the edge of ruin,
Take form once more—warrior of legend.
From the ashes, we carve a path.
And from that path, we forge our future."
A sudden gust of wind surged forth from the summoning circle, spiraling violently around it, as if heralding the arrival of something truly formidable.
"Through you, I embody change.
Through me, you embody will.
Heroes and villains alike,
Born of men, kings, and gods.
To those who dare to answer—
Come forth in duty, in desire, in will."
The summoning circle flashed one final time before detonating with a surge of magical energy. It wasn't strong enough to knock me back, even if I had been an ordinary human, but it was enough that I felt it reverberate through my bones. Smoke billowed into the air, but it took me mere moments to pierce through the haze. And there she stood—not just a shadow or a legend, but a presence made manifest.
The woman who had forsaken her ideals, her dreams, her naivety.
The woman who had transformed from a benevolent king into a ruthless tyrant.
The woman who had cast aside duty in favor of absolute freedom.
But most of all, the woman who now stood before me was power incarnate, condensed into one being. "Tell me, woman, are you the one who has summoned me?" Her voice carried a chilling authority, her eyes as sharp and lethal as a blade.
Yet, despite the sheer weight of her presence, I remained steadfast, meeting her gaze without flinching. "I am Evelyn Chevalier, and I have summoned you to become my companion in sowing destruction and chaos upon those who seek to shackle us to a fate we refuse to accept. Do you, Tyrant of Britain, accept my call? Will you stand at my side and strike down all who oppose us?"
My words were carefully woven, shaped by what little I could remember from my meta-knowledge and the rushed personality analysis Alex had compiled on Artoria Alter. I could only hope they would resonate with her. For a fleeting moment, uncertainty crept into my mind. Had I said the wrong thing?
But then, I saw it. A small, knowing grin played on her lips.
"To break the chains that bind, to claim true freedom... an admirable goal, indeed." Her voice carried the faintest trace of amusement. "Very well. I, who have already cast off my own shackles, shall walk this path with you."
She inclined her head in acknowledgment, and it took everything in me not to collapse right then and there. One thing was certain: if I ever showed even a hint of weakness before this woman, she would have no hesitation in casting me aside.
And that was something I could not afford to let happen.
Fortunately, for my heart, Saber Alter, decided to tour CHALDEA on her own. I, of course, offered to show her around, not wanting to offend the woman, but she had denied my help and just went off on her own. I was seriously regretting going along with Da Vinci and the Director's plan, but since we can't take her back, I was already making plans to hopefully get into the woman's good graces.
I may not be at the level of Emiya just yet, but I was getting close, thanks to Artiste, so I'm sure I'll gain some sway by feeding her high-quality food, and with Do One Thing at a Time, I should be able to sate her gluttony. Speaking of my perks, the Celestial Forge made itself known earlier, during the summoning, but I ignored it in favor for something far more important at the moment. Plus, it failed to grab onto anything anyway. However, after everything was finished, I did receive some notifications that I managed to complete some Quests.
The host has succeeded in their first Servant summoning, receiving 200 CP.
Rolling...
Roll failed.
Points banked: 400 CP
The host has succeeded in summoning a Servant from a Singularity for the first time, receiving 100 CP.
Rolling...
Roll succeeded.
Stitch by Stitch (Earth Girls) (300CP)The clothes you make are gorgeous and suited to the person you make them for. They protect both the heart and the body of the person that wears them, sheltering them from physical sickness and 'spiritual' illnesses alike while making the most of their body.
Points banked: 200 CPClick to expand...
The host has been noticed by Gaia, receiving 20-
The host has gained the attention of Gaia, receiving 300 CP
Roll-
Roll succeeded.
Fairy (Fate/Legends - Garden of Avalon) (400CP)Despite having human parents, you are a long way from being human yourself. An ancient, long buried heritage in your ancestry has awakened and you were born as a Fairy. A Fairy is an extension of Gaia, similar to how the hairs or fingers on your body are an extension of you. Despite this, you retain your free will completely, thus allowing you to benefit quite significantly from being considered a natural part of the world, especially when it comes to your magecraft being accepted as entirely natural. You are also able to become invisible to the senses of any being without magic.
Beyond this, you have amazing talent in creating magic items and while you are right now a long way from crafting something like Excalibur or Arondight, you are still several times as skilled, fast and efficient in the creation of magical items as normal. Lastly, you have the potential, with enough power and/or age, to evolve into a full fledged Elemental, granting you greater authority and importance to the world, along with a not insignificant boost in power.
In future worlds, you may choose to have a similar connection to the world you begin on as you do with Gaia here.
Points banked: 20-
Points banked: 600 CPClick to expand...
Although the sudden change in my body—both flesh and android—was agonizing, it couldn't overshadow the overwhelming sense of dread that clawed at my mind. The first coherent thought that surfaced was a frantic chant, an endless loop of, "Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck..." My breathing was ragged, my limbs trembled, and my vision swam, but after what felt like an eternity of nothing worse happening, I forced myself to calm down. Well, as calm as one could be when the Will of the World had decided to fix its attention on them.
Everything I had ever heard about Gaia painted them in an unflattering, even terrifying light. The idea that they could not only interact with but actively interfere with the Celestial Forge chilled me to my core. For a long while, I braced myself, waiting for the Counter Force to descend upon me, to wipe me out for being an anomaly in this world. But as the minutes dragged on and no such judgment came, I made a conscious effort to push that terrifying notion aside. The awareness of their attention lingered, like an itch in my soul I couldn't quite scratch, but I ignored it as best as I could.
It was a small mercy that this transformation happened while I was alone. The last thing I needed was people questioning why I was suddenly having a full-blown panic attack. Then again, I could have spun it as a reaction to summoning the cruel version of the King of Britain. Maybe they'd buy that. Regardless, once I had somewhat regained my composure, I turned my focus to what mattered most—checking my new gains.
Stitch by Stitch didn't seem all that impressive at first glance. Sure, it gave me the skills to create my own clothes, which was a nice perk, especially since I had been dying to recreate the original Evelyn Chevalier's outfit. But the real value of the ability became clear once I dug deeper. Not only did it allow me to craft incredible garments, but it also granted protection from physical ailments and spiritual afflictions. In other words, the clothes I made would shield people from things like curses. Considering I was in a world brimming with mages, that kind of protection was invaluable. If I ever had to face the likes of Medea, I'd at least have some defense against spells designed to weaken or debilitate me.
But then there was the other mote—the one Gaia had forcibly embedded into me. That was something I both feared and revered.
I was now a Fairy.
And despite my android nature, I was still recognized as one. That alone was weird enough, but I shoved aside the existential implications in favor of what truly mattered: I could now naturally wield magic.
Magecraft? Fuck that. I had no need for it anymore.
Though, interestingly enough, I found myself feeling a faint disdain for it now. Was that just part of being a Fairy? An innate preference for raw, unfiltered magic over the structured, human-crafted discipline of magecraft? It was something to think about later.
Another oddity—technology should have weakened me. The fusion of artificial and fae elements within me should have been a contradiction, a fatal flaw. And yet, somehow, I bypassed that weakness entirely. More than that, I had an innate understanding now, a certainty that Forging—creation itself—was my true purpose. One day, I would craft weapons on par with, or even surpassing, Excalibur.
That thought alone sent a shiver of excitement down my spine. A wide grin stretched across my face as I slowly grasped the full implications of my transformation. The joy I felt was intoxicating, nearly enough to distract me from the looming presence of Gaia.
Or maybe I was only able to ignore it because, as a Fairy, I was now faintly connected to her.
"Hey there, Evelyn. Are you—you seem... different." Da Vinci's voice pulled me from my thoughts as I entered the console room. She was the first to greet me, her ever-perceptive eyes locking onto me the moment I stepped in. She didn't need to say more; I knew she had noticed something.
A quick glance around revealed that we weren't alone. Several staff members milled about, their attention thankfully elsewhere. Not wanting to explain anything in front of an audience, I subtly gestured to Da Vinci that we'd talk later. She gave a slight nod in understanding.
"Anyway," she continued, smoothly shifting gears, "are you ready for Fujimaru's summoning?"
Fujimaru had just entered the summoning chamber, Mash walking at her side like an ever-watchful guardian. Unlike them, I had multiple layers of protection. I could resurrect. I could fight. Fujimaru, on the other hand, was still squishy. If Mash wasn't around, she'd be at serious risk.
That reminded me—I needed to pull Fujimaru aside and talk to her about creating an android body for her.
We had spent three days getting to know each other, and in that time, I could confidently say we were friends. And if I had learned anything about her, it was that she'd be far more interested in the possibility of having a functional dick than in the whole "immortality" angle. For all her heroism, Fujimaru was a simple, perverted woman. Convincing her would be easy.
For now, though, I focused on the task at hand. As they prepared for the summoning, the Celestial Forge flickered into existence again... only to fail.
I sighed, shrugging off the failure, and turned my attention back to Fujimaru. The summoning chant was beginning.
I listened intently as she spoke, noting that her incantation was vastly different from mine—filled with idealistic words of unity and hope. A stark contrast to the raw, desperate energy that had fueled my own summoning.
The summoning circle pulsed, its glow intensifying with each passing second. I shifted my stance, tensing as I prepared to break through the console's glass panes if things went south.
Fujimaru's voice reached its crescendo, and the chamber was flooded with light. Smoke billowed outward, obscuring everything.
Mash and Fujimaru flinched, momentarily blinded.
I, however, could see perfectly. And what I saw made my stomach drop. 'Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me.'
A regal figure stood in the center of the summoning circle, her golden hair flowing, her piercing blue eyes locked onto Fujimaru. Then came the words. The words that sent a fresh wave of dread coursing through me. "Are you my Master?" Her voice was soft, yet authoritative. Unmistakable.
Artoria Pendragon. Saber.
Fucking hell.
I was already the Master of Saber Alter. I was also a Fairy now. Which meant I was about to have a massive problem on my hands.
...Looks like I was going to have to prepare a goddamn feast to smooth this over with Saber Alter, wasn't I?
"Deceiver!" That was the first word that burst from Saber Alter's lips, her voice thick with fury and muffled slightly by the food caking her mouth. She swung her sword at me without hesitation, her movements fueled by righteous anger and whatever meal she had just been devouring.
"Wait, wait!" I yelled, barely managing to dodge her attack. The sword crashed down onto the table beside me, shattering the wood with a deafening crack. I thanked whatever higher power existed that the table hadn't been covered in food. That would have made things worse.
"Why must I wait to listen to a betrayer's words!?" she roared, swinging again, her relentless assault giving me no time to breathe.
Thanks to Incredibly Talented, I dodged once more, the blade missing me by mere inches. Desperate not to be cut down where I stood, I shouted, "This was a recent development, so please, just listen to me!"
I leaped to avoid yet another swing, but this time, her blade clipped the edge of a burger from a nearby food-laden table. The moment the piece of food was sent flying, Saber Alter froze.
Although it hurt my pride immensely to realize that a piece of meat was being treated with more importance than my life, I quickly moved to stand protectively in front of the table stacked with food. If it meant placating the furious woman in front of me, then so be it.
"Please, Saber, just let me explain!" I pleaded. "Please!"
I didn't know if she finally decided I was worth listening to or if the food behind me was simply too precious to risk destroying, but she let out a sharp huff. With deliberate slowness, she sheathed her sword, though her hand remained tightly wrapped around the hilt, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.
"Fine. Explain why you, my Master, turned out to be a Fairy." Her golden eyes bore into me, sharp as the blade she wielded, filled with enough fury that I was half-convinced she could set me on fire with sheer will alone.
Not wanting to waste this rare chance, I immediately launched into my explanation. "I have this power that constantly grants me abilities—mostly for crafting—but after summoning you, I caught the attention of Gaia. And because she apparently has nothing better to do, she decided to mess with my abilities and turned me into a Fairy!"
Saber Alter froze. I braced myself, ready to dodge another attack. After all, what I had just said sounded utterly ridiculous. Even I would have trouble believing it if I were in her shoes.
Yet instead of another swing, she took on a contemplative stance, her eyes narrowing in thought.
I waited. And waited.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke. "You mean to tell me that you have a power that grants you more power?"
I nodded. Then, belatedly, I realized that was probably the worst thing to confirm. I was sure she wouldn't take kindly to the idea of someone gaining strength without any effort. Technically, I had to survive first in order to acquire more power, but that distinction might not matter to her.
Before I could clarify, Saber Alter nodded to herself. "Hmm. At least you aren't weak. And if you aren't lying—and as a mere Human, managed to attract the attention of the Will of the Earth—then I will accept you as my Master, even if you have become a Fairy."
I wasn't sure what exactly had led to this unexpected acceptance, but I wasn't about to question my good fortune. As long as she stopped trying to kill me, that was all that mattered.
Still, I knew better than to celebrate just yet. I had barely begun to process my relief when I suddenly found myself staring at the tip of Saber Alter's sword.
Gulping, I met her gaze as she spoke, her voice devoid of hesitation. "But know this. If you ever try to deceive me, I will kill you. Failing that, I will hunt down those you love and lay ruin to anything you remotely find joy in."
This wasn't a threat. It was a promise. A vow of absolute certainty. With no other option, I nodded. That seemed to placate her—at least enough for her to lower her sword. With a flick of her wrist, she sheathed it once more.
Then, as if she hadn't just been trying to end my life mere moments ago, she plopped down in front of her meal and resumed devouring it, completely at ease.
I let out a heavy sigh, my legs feeling weak beneath me. I was this close to sprinting out of the cafeteria entirely. But knowing that I needed to earn Saber Alter's favor—if only to prevent her from trying to kill me again—I turned around and made my way back to the kitchen.
If cooking for her would help keep her sword away from my throat, then so be it.
The host has been decided to be trolled by Gaia, receive 100 CP for the entertainment from the Will of the Planet.
Rolling...
Roll failed.
Points banked: 800 CPClick to expand...
This was the notification I received when the uncorrupted Saber was summoned, and at this point, I was really starting to despise being the apparent source of entertainment for the Will of the Planet. It was becoming painfully obvious that whatever cosmic force was pulling the strings had a twisted sense of humor—especially when it decided that I needed to be dragged out of my workshop once Saber and Saber Alter met, all so I could play mediator between them using the universal solution: food.
"Once again, Da Vinci, fuck you."
The words left my mouth as I finished upgrading my mono-wires, ensuring that they could now be infused with elemental magic rather than being limited to my Holy-infused plasma. I barely had time to bask in my success before Da Vinci, ever the smug genius, responded.
"Heh, heh. There's no need for such crude language, Evelyn." Her voice was light, teasing, and completely devoid of remorse, which only fueled my irritation further.
Currently, there were only a few hours left before we were scheduled for the Rayshift to repair the Singularity, and we were putting it off for as long as humanly—or, in my case, androidly—possible. However, given that I had already completed the creation of my new android body and had successfully summoned my Servants, the reality of our duty was closing in fast. We couldn't afford to delay any longer; the Singularities were unstable, and if left unchecked, they could cause irreparable damage to history itself.
Still, even with the weight of the mission pressing down on me, I found a moment to indulge in some much-needed distraction.
"If we manage to fix this Singularity, then you better know that I'll hunt your ass down and fuck it until you can't walk." The words were meant to throw Da Vinci off, to derail whatever she was currently tinkering with and hopefully cause a slip-up. It was a petty little victory I was aiming for, nothing more. However, when she visibly tensed, her face heating up in a noticeable blush, and yelped as something sparked dangerously from her project, my teasing shifted into something much more serious—a promise.
I was absolutely stressed, frustrated, and horny. My new body may have been artificial, but my hormones were still all over the place, and simple masturbation wasn't cutting it anymore. I needed more, and after everything that had been brewing between us, I was genuinely looking forward to making good on my words.
It wasn't as though this was new territory for either of us. Over the past week, Da Vinci and I had been teasing each other relentlessly—just friendly banter, or so we told ourselves. CHALDEA was a bleak and exhausting place, and the playful back-and-forth had been a necessary reprieve from the looming dread. But at some point, amidst all the teasing, something changed. The tension between us shifted, gained an edge that neither of us could ignore.
We were both beautiful women, and I was openly, unabashedly gay. Da Vinci, on the other hand, had been a man in a past life but now inhabited a woman's body. That alone set the stage for an inevitable shift in dynamics. And let's not forget that beneath all that genius, Da Vinci was a goddamn pervert. The so-called "friendly" groping had been a dead giveaway.
So, yeah, this was bound to happen eventually. I just decided to set an official appointment for it.
And then, as if the universe itself wanted to acknowledge my decision, the Celestial Forge stirred.
A tendril of energy shot out from my soul-self, reaching directly for the Appearance Quality Constellation. It latched onto a small but potent mote, and the moment I absorbed it, an instinctual understanding settled within me—I could now design anything with unparalleled beauty. Everything I created from this moment onward would be so breathtaking that even Gods might take notice.
Which… shouldn't be a problem, right?
I mean, the Age of Gods had ended, and as far as I knew, none of the Singularities we were scheduled to fix had any deities lurking in them. Right?
Beauty in the Arts (God of War) (200CP)The Greeks and their gods have an eye for the aesthetics of their surroundings. Whether it is the statues around them, or the floors they walk upon, or the things they carry and wield, it is better if it is appealing. Your ability to design any of your crafts has increased with this knowledge, able to appeal to form without sacrificing function. Regardless of what you create, it's going to look good enough that the gods might take notice... might. Whether this is a good thing, or a bad thing is for you to decide.
Points banked: 700 CPClick to expand...
Shaking off the sudden and entirely unwelcome fear of divine attention, I turned my focus back to the notification I had received, hoping for some sort of distraction from the absurdity that was my life.. Anyway, ignoring that and Da Vinci's heated gaze, because we had no time to finally get into the act and follow our baser instincts, I went into pouring my attention on upgrading as much as my weapons as I can. With only a few hours left, I was sure that I wouldn't be able to upgrade much, but I should still be able to upgrade my mantis-blades.
-*-Fujimaru's POV-*-
"Are you nervous?"
The voice came from my left, soft yet laced with genuine concern. I turned my head and found Evelyn watching me closely. If it had been Mash asking, I probably would have forced myself to put on a braver front, to reassure her despite my own doubts. But this was Evelyn—the older woman who, somewhat unexpectedly, had become my friend. Our bond had formed through the many hours I'd spent watching her teach Mash how to cook, a skill Mash was both enthusiastic about and hilariously terrible at. Evelyn was the kind of person you just knew you could rely on, the kind of friend you could confide in without fear of judgment.
Rubbing my shoulder absentmindedly, I exhaled sharply and muttered, "Yeah... I'm... I'm still not sure about all this Master business. Even with Da Vinci taking the time to teach me now and then, I still don't understand a damn thing about magecraft." The words came out unfiltered, exposing the insecurities and frustrations I'd been bottling up for far too long. And yet, with Evelyn, I didn't feel the need to hold back. She was the one person I felt comfortable spilling everything to.
Mash was my best friend, and I loved her to death, but I also knew her limits. She had a big heart, but emotionally and socially, she struggled in ways that made deep conversations like this difficult. If I had confided in her, she would have undoubtedly reassured me, made promises that she'd protect me no matter what. And while that was sweet—hell, it was comforting—it wasn't what I wanted. What I wanted was to stand beside her as her equal. To protect her just as fiercely as she protected me. I didn't want to be dead weight. I didn't want to be a burden. That was why I had thrown myself into studying magecraft, even if my progress had been agonizingly slow. Even learning to use a simple Gandr felt like an impossible hurdle.
"I don't... I don't want to be a burden. To Mash and to you..." The words slipped out before I could stop them, and the moment they did, I tensed. I expected Evelyn to look at me with pity, maybe offer some empty reassurances that everything would be fine. But she didn't. Instead, she just smiled faintly and, to my surprise, reached out to give me a gentle headpat.
"It's fine to feel that way, Fujimaru. To feel nervous. To feel like a burden. It's normal." Her voice was steady, carrying a weight of understanding I hadn't anticipated. "Hell, I've felt like that more times than I can count. So, I get it. And tell you what—" I looked up at her, the woman who had managed to bring a genuine smile to Mash's face just by teaching her how to cook, and I listened as she said something that defied all my expectations.
"After we finish fixing up this Singularity, I'll make you an android body so you can fight alongside Mash and me. It might even help you learn magecraft faster than you would with your normal body."
I froze. My mind went blank for a solid few seconds as I tried to process what she had just said. I had always known Evelyn was an android—she had openly admitted as much during one of her sessions with Mash—but I never thought she'd offer something like this. A chance to fight. A chance to stand beside Mash, not behind her. It was overwhelming.
Then Evelyn grinned, her expression turning just a tad mischievous. "Also, I'll even give you a dick. How does that sound?"
That was it. That was the kicker. I had already been sold on the whole 'being able to fight alongside Mash' thing, but this? This just sealed the deal.