“So that’s what you guys have been dealing with, huh?’

They were once more back in the command tent, surrounding the table once more. Tamamo’s seals were up, but this time there were also seals to notify her if anyone with hostile intent approached. With how discontent the soldiers seemed to be, it seemed a prudent course of action. Romans were unaccepting of foreigners even at the best of times, and Caesar’s words were not helping. Mash had stuck to Ritsu like glue, utterly refusing to leave her side – a sentiment the Master was very grateful for.

Joining them in the command tent was Spartacus. Although he hadn’t been nearby during the speech, he had heard it all in its entirety. Given how things were getting even worse than they already were, it seemed he deemed it prudent to join in on the conversation. He stood nearby with his perpetual grin as always, with his arms crossed. Pretty much everyone had given him a wide berth, which he didn’t seem to mind at any rate.

Boudica sighed tiredly. “Yes, it is,” she answered. “He gives speeches like this usually two or three times every week, or whenever he deems prudent, like us mounting an attack or as you just saw, receiving reinforcements. It’s more than enough to ruin the momentum of whatever we have planned. I take it you guys see now how his oration is a problem?”

“Indeed,” Tamamo agreed, frowning as her ears twitched. “I did not think such an ability would be such a hindrance, but listening to him speak is a different matter entirely. Just his voice alone seems to compel me to listen, let alone his words. His effect on your men is especially notable.” So saying, she glanced outside the tent. Although the soldiers couldn’t see precisely what was going on in the tent, no small number were glaring at whatever they could see within as they passed by.

“Hmph, an oppressor can oppress in many different ways,” Spartacus growled. “The emperor in this case chooses to oppress us with his truth. Though we will break through such oppression, its chains on the common people cannot be understated.”

Ritsu blew a sigh as she thought. “I was gonna call for backup, but I don’t think we’re gonna have time for that,” she muttered, rubbing her temples. “Honestly, I get the sinking feeling one of us is gonna either be poisoned, stabbed in the back, or both. Probably both. The sooner we get this dealt with, the less we’ll have to worry about it.” She didn’t bother mentioning that frankly, she was in the most danger of said stabbing or poisoning. Such things wouldn’t affect Servants – though it might affect demi-Servants.

Oh right. Roman did mention that apparently, thanks to Mash’s abilities, the Masters couldn’t be poisoned. That just left being stabbed. Oh, what fun. And the fact that their opponent right now was Caesar made that triply ironic.

“Um, actually…” Mash started, catching the attention of everyone else. “I wanted to mention – the portrayals and recordings of Ceasar usually had him as a very lean man. His physical appearance as a Servant is far different than what I expected. Is this a case of inaccurate historical records, perhaps? Or is there something else…?”

“Well, Artoria was recorded in history as a boy,” Ritsu mused. “She’s a girl, obviously, but given boy’s clothes and/or some armor and she could pass for a very pretty boy…” Everyone was quiet as they considered the information. Servants being different than how history recorded them wasn’t all too uncommon – after all, how the heck could Nero be recorded as a guy when she strutted about with her chest and rear obviously showing?! – but that still didn’t provide a lot of information overall.

And more importantly, they were still no closer to figuring out precisely what Servant class Caesar even was. There had to be a way to suss it out, otherwise they’d just be charging straight to their doom. Wait… charging straight in…

“I think I have an idea,” Ritsu said slowly. “I won’t lie, it’s an incredibly stupid one and it probably won’t work, but it’s an idea.”

Boudica gave a weary yet encouraging smile. “A bad idea is better than no ideas,” she reassured the Master. “Let’s hear it.”

With that, Ritsu described the plan. The more she talked about it, the deeper the frowns on Tamamo and Boudica became, and the more anxious Mash seemed to get. In contrast, Spartacus’s grin grew wider and wider which was, as always, an unnerving sight. “This is a rather risky plan, Ritsu,” Boudica mused. “Even with your safety measures, I’m uncomfortable with the idea.”

The Berserker, however, laughed heartily. “To show such bravery in the face of oppression is always a commendable act! Especially if you are allied to the legendary Phantom Thieves!” The term drew a stare of confusion from Boudica and surprise from both Mash and Tamamo. “I approve of this plan! There is always much to risk when fighting oppression, yet such risks must be taken so that it can be destroyed no matter where it may take root!”

Ritsu glanced over at the Caster and the shielder. “And what about you guys?” she asked quietly. “My plan hinges on the two of you, otherwise I really got nothing.”

Tamamo sighed. “Once more, a foolhardy plan,” she replied bluntly. “But not one without merit. If there is no orthodox approach that will not suffice, then it should follow an unorthodox approach must be used instead. I shall assure your safety, Master.”

Mash nodded. “As will I, senpai,” she added. “I’ll protect you no matter what happens, I swear it. And I won’t allow myself to be swayed no matter what happens.”

The redhead chuckled, feeling the extremely tight knot in her stomach loosen just a tiny bit. “You’re always the most adorable, reliable kouhai one could ever have,” she remarked, lunging forward and once more wrapping her arms around the shielder, causing the lilac-haired girl to splutter and blush once more. “Thanks Mash,” she murmured. “You’re the best.”

Mash could spluttered a bit more before finally breathing out, slowly and hesitatingly returning the hug. “O-of course,” she stammered quietly. “I’ll always watch out for you, senpai.” Then her grip tightened as a determined light crept into her eyes. “I promise.”

Tamamo watched them with a soft smile. They’re both growing up so fast. Glancing over, she observed the other two Servants. Even Spartacus’s typical grin seemed softer as usual. Boudica’s was warm and… wistful? She wondered at it for a bit, then shrugged. Not her business.

After all, these two girls were going to be a handful as is.

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The view from the fortress was spectacular. From here, one could see the rolling fields stretching into the horizon, the distant mountains, and the verdant forests. And closer to view was the gleam of polished armor and shields as soldiers patrolled the grounds and the walls, ever vigilant for trouble and invaders both within and without. All surrounded by strong fortress walls that, while weathered and battered, were in no way close to crumbling. Sure, it could do with some stonemason work, but there really wasn’t much better for defense.

And all of it felt like a gigantic mockery to the emperor.

Caesar absentmindedly swirled the cup of wine as he stared out at the Roman camp directly across the open field. He had a decorum to keep, but it was getting harder by the day. He was a Roman, and he was proud of it. Everything he had done in life had been for the glory of Rome, and by association his own glory. He had done it for the people, the empire. To see them all flourishing and have them praise his name were some of the greatest joys and honor he could receive.

And yet, here he was in this fortress, attacking the Roman empire with hollow facsimiles of its proud soldiers, and forced to fight because of that mage Lev. Standing against him was the empire itself, led by the infamous queen of Iceni, Boudica, who had her home and family razed and despoiled by the Romans, and the rebel gladiator Spartacus. Frankly, all of this was so absurd and infuriating that he couldn’t help but laugh at… well, all of it.

The fact that he was also made rather corpulent as a Servant as opposed to his normally lean physique was undoubtedly rubbing salt in the wound.

But there was nothing for it. He couldn’t directly help the empire – directly going against his Master would only prove to be far more troublesome in the long run – but he could at least do his worst, allowing him to be more easily defeated. The problem was that his ‘worst’ still wasn’t enough. Everything had been so stacked in his favor that victory was more or less inevitable. It was like trying to keep a ball from rolling down a cone.

Frankly, he was so frustrated he wanted to roar, but it would serve little purpose. There was no one he could speak to about this. All his fellow Servants were too far away, he trusted none of his officers, and the soldiers… that was an excuse in futility if he ever heard one. It was just him here, trying his damndest to lose in a non-obvious way, and failing. Ah, the irony.

He could only sigh as he sipped his wine, thinking back to his life. What would his dear wife say about all of this? Between the two of them, they would’ve thought of even better methods to lose without being too incredibly obvious about it. Perhaps they could even sneak out – France was known for its wine and countryside, after all. It wasn’t as grand as the heartland of the empire, but it would do for a nice vacation. Cesarion would probably enjoy it too. Children should travel when they can, and the son of an emperor and empress even more so.

His ruminations were interrupted by a small flurry of motion outside. Blinking in surprise, he narrowed his eyes to get a better view. A white bird? Well, the sight of those were common enough, but this one seemed to be flying awfully close. Wait, no, it was flying right towards him. As it got closer, he noticed that it wasn’t a bird – or rather, not a real one. He reached out with an outstretched hand, and it landed on his palm: a paper crane.

How curious. It must’ve been from one of the foreign Servants he saw entering the camp the other day. And it was clear there was writing on it. While he was loathe to ruin such a lovely craft, it had to be done. Gently pulling apart the crane, it unfolded into a small square of paper and read the message.

‘Your majesty,’ it read. ‘We wish to meet with you so that we can speak. Can we meet tonight and talk? We can meet in your fortress if that works out for you.’

Caesar blinked in surprise. This certainly wasn’t what he had been expecting. The handwriting wasn’t elegant nor particularly neat, but it was legible. The vernacular wasn’t incredibly formal either. Again, it must’ve been written by one of the foreigners. He had to wonder exactly what their plan was. Were they going to kill him as soon as they met while his guard was down, just like how he had been killed in life?

Still, the appearance of the new foreigners combined with the method of sending this message had aroused his curiosity. Taking a quill and ink, he wrote his reply. ‘The side gates shall be open to you tonight,’ he wrote. ‘I look forward to meeting you and yours. – Gaius Julius Caesar.’ With that, he wondered how he was going to send the message back to the camp when the paper suddenly folded itself back up into a crane, then easily soared back out the window with a small flap of its wings. Before long, it was a white dot before vanishing from view into the countryside.

For the first time since he had been summoned for this mockery of a war, he had to genuinely chuckle. This was certainly interesting. Turning, he walked out of the bedroom in far higher spirits than before. Preparations were needed for his guests, after all, and he would be bringing shame to his station if he received them poorly. This would be a most amusing time for him. And perhaps it would even lead to his downfall.

What an odd thing to be excited about.

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“I honestly thought this would be a lot harder,” Ritsu remarked.

Ritsu, Mash, and Tamamo watched as the side gate opened ponderously for them. Although there was a much smaller door cut into the gate itself to allow for a smaller quantity of visitors, it was clear that they were getting some special treatment here. It had been a matter of sneaking out of the camp and making sure they weren’t noticed or followed – there would be absolute hell to pay if they were found out, after all. Thankfully, it had been a simple matter of leaving decoys in their tents, then vaulting over the palisade when the patrols weren’t looking.

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Once more, the Master was extremely grateful she brought a Caster as versatile as Tamamo along. Whipping up magecraft for decoys and stealth was child’s play for her.

“That is because that was the easy part, Master,” the Caster gently admonished as she watched the gates opening impassively. “I do not think I need to remind you to keep your wits about you – if Caesar at such an impersonal distance already had such an effect on us, then I cannot imagine what him directing his attention at us will be like.”

“Oh, pft, all he’s got is a big mouth,” Ritsu scoffed. “We got this.”

Tamamo shot her Master a small glare, then noticed the redhead was tapping her thigh nervously. The girl was trying to keep her nerve and only partially succeeding. Mash in turn had moved closer to Ritsu, eyeing the URE soldiers on the walls above. None of them had moved, but they were ‘staring’ down at them without moving so much as a muscle. To say it was unnerving was putting it mildly.

The gate fully opened, revealing row upon row of soldiers flanking the path. All of them held shields and gladii, standing at attention as they stared ahead. They made a clear path that led into the main keep of the fortress.

“Well, Caesar is definitely extra,” Ritsu quipped before gulping nervously.

Mash glanced over in curiosity. “Extra?” she asked.

“It means that he just goes above and beyond in terms of aesthetics or showing off,” Ritsu answered. “Granted, since Caesar’s a Roman emperor, it’s probably to be expected with him. Nero probably would be ridiculously extravagant too if it weren’t for the fact that she has her back to the wall.” She remembered Nero was known for his/her extravagance in life. But then, given how much of it was propaganda, it was hard to say for certain.

Then she thought back to how Nero acted and huffed a breath in amusement. Yeah, she definitely would be extra as hell.

“Would Ren be considered ‘extra’ then?” Mash asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

Ritsu barely restrained herself from laughing at Mash’s very innocent question with a very audible snort. “Er…” she stammered, the telltale tremor in her voice extremely clear. “He can probably qualify. I just need to see him do more stuff first.” Racing off into the pass might qualify, but she had a feeling the guy would just love to show off if he could. It’s just the situation they were in didn’t exactly allow for it. But yeah, only Nero would rival him in being extra if that was the case.

“While a pleasant conversation, you two,” Tamamo interrupted. “Perhaps we should get moving.”

The Master blinked, then chuckled ruefully. “Yeah, we should go,” she agreed. With that, they proceeded into the fortress. Both Mash and Tamamo drew closer to her while keeping a wary eye on the soldiers all around them. Their worries only compounded as the gate slowly shut behind them. These soldiers were no match for two Servants, but while protecting a Master at the same time? That was a hard ask.

Despite their caution, the soldiers didn’t react whatsoever, still staring straight ahead as the three walked past them. They were as still as statues, adding to their eeriness. Before long, they were at the keep, where more soldiers standing guard shepherded them through the winding hallways and staircases. Finally, they came upon one grander door, which slowly opened – revealing a throne room, with a red carpet leading up to the throne. The walls were decorated with paintings, tapestries, and curtains as the evening sun filtered into the room, giving everything a surprisingly bright, regal glow.

And sitting on a surprisingly simple throne was the Servant himself. He glanced up as they stepped in and smiled, standing up. As they approached, Ritsu felt more and more cowed by his presence. He wasn’t the lean figure that history portrayed him as, but he had an air of confidence and power to him that was intimidating. And though he was on the fatter side, it was more stocky than obese – the kind of stocky that could knock out people in one punch, push came to shove.

All in all, despite looking different than expected, there was no doubt the person standing in front of them was the Roman emperor, Gaius Julius Caesar.

“And here are our guests of honor!” he remarked loudly. He opened his arms in a gesture of welcome. “Welcome to Gaul! It isn’t Rome or any of the other great cities, but it shall suffice! Ah, but you have me at a disadvantage. You already know who I am – word of my presence has spread far and wide, after all – but I must trouble you and ask for introductions.”

Ritsu and Mash glanced at each other. There was nothing for it – if they wanted information from Caesar, they needed to at least give him a bit in order to smooth things over. “I’m Ritsuka Fujimaru,” the Master replied. “A Master affiliated with the Chaldea Security Organization. Just call me Ritsu. It’s an honor to meet you, your majesty.”

“Oh no, my dear, the honor is mine,” Caesar replied, his smile widening. Despite his friendly nature, Ritsu noticed that his eyes hadn’t wandered from him or the other two in the slightest. He was taking in every bit of detail he could, both from the obvious sources and from the less obvious ones. The scrutiny felt much like when they first talked to Nero. However, Nero had every reason to ignore or dismiss anything that might harm her or her men’s impression of them. Caesar most likely wouldn’t be so kind.

“I am Mash Kyrielight of Chaldea,” Mash introduced herself. “I am a demi-Servant. Class Shielder. It is an honor to meet you as well, your majesty.”

That got Caesar’s eyebrow to rise, causing Ritsu to admonish herself in realization. Right – demi-Servants and a Shielder class Servant weren’t exactly common. Mash was definitely one of a kind in that regard. The emperor was eyeing her with renewed interest but it was too late now. They had to hope that he wouldn’t or couldn’t leverage the information for his own purposes.

The Master was already starting to regret coming here. She had brought a knife to the proverbial gunfight – and said guns were full-on miniguns.

Tamamo gave the emperor an impassive stare. “I am Servant Caster,” she replied simply. Her tone made it clear that that was all he would get out of her. Caesar simply nodded in response without showing any displeasure.

“Very well then,” Caesar accepted easily. “Then, Ritsu, Mash, and Caster. Once more, I welcome you. But…” He glanced outside the window as the orange daylight steadily dimmed with the sun sinking below the horizon. “It is getting late and it would not do for an emperor to be a poor host.” He grinned broadly. “Please, I implore you to stay for dinner. Discussions are far better conducted over plentiful food and good wine than in such a room, wouldn’t you agree?”

The invitation left the three blinking in surprise as they all glanced at each other. They had expected talks in this very throne room, not invited to dinner. Was this some sort of trap? The jovial face of Caesar didn’t show any such thing but given how the man was a master statesman, his expression didn’t mean much. Noticing her hesitation, the emperor chuckled. “You need not worry about the food being poisoned – I need to eat as well, of course,” he reassured them. “If it settles you, you may have your Caster check for any poisons or toxins that may or may not have been added.”

Ritsu blinked again before turning to Tamamo. “Er, can you?” she asked hesitatingly.

The miko’s face was impassive once more. However, a twitch of her ears and tail was enough of a sign to show her irritation. “It is a trifling matter, Master,” she confirmed. “I can even purge the poisons if necessary. If you wish to stay this course of action, then I shall perform my duties as your Servant.”

The Master winced a bit. Her words said one thing, but her tone made it abundantly clear her actual meaning: they were going to have a talk after this is done, and it won’t be the kind that Ritsu would enjoy. But there was nothing for it – they were here now and needed to get this done.

“Well, in that case, lead the way,” Ritsu replied. “Honestly, I can’t say no to a free meal.” And it most likely wasn’t poisoned. Probably. Maybe. Well, at least Caster would be able to handle it, just in case. She was clinging to whatever silver lining she could, with some partial success. Mash moved a bit more closely to her – wait, Mash was with her! Why was she worried about poisoning?! Still, it was for the best to not make any mention of that. The less information she gave to Caesar, the better.

With a satisfied nod, Caesar walked down from the raised floor where his throne had been situated and made his way towards a side door. Despite his large size, he somehow still made walking look regal. Seriously, how does one do that? Maybe it just came with being an emperor? Nero would probably be the same way too. Then she shook her head. She needed to focus. Her thoughts had a weird way of going on tangents when she was nervous, after all.

A facsimile soldier opened the door, allowing them all to pass through. As they walked, something slid out of Tamamo’s sleeves and drifted off. Only the Chaldeans noticed what she had done, and it was clear the URE soldiers weren’t going to properly react. With any luck, it would stay that way. For now, all of them continued to follow Caesar without pausing or slowing down. Best to pretend that there was nothing else going on.

On the other side of the door was a grand hall, richly decorated with more paintings and curtains. There were windows high above, allowing the fading light in to illuminate the dining hall. Despite that, more soldiers were going about lighting the scones mounted on the sides of the wall. The centerpiece was a long dining table, surrounded by chairs. The entire table was filled with a good number of dishes, ranging from slow-cooked pork and fishes to various salads and greens, as well as breads dipped in honey and garlic.

All in all, compared to the fare she had even when dining with Nero, it was practically a feast. They all took their seats, with Caesar at the head of the table and the three girls on either side – Ritsu and Mash together, and Tamamo by herself. Ritsu was truly feeling a sense of déjà vu from all the times she had dined with Nero.

Speaking of the Caster, the fox miko had tossed out a talisman, which glowed for a moment before fading away, quietly withdrawing back into her hand. Probably something to help deal with any poison that may or may not have been in the food. Caesar watched the talisman before smiling over at Tamamo. “I assume the paper crane was your handiwork as well?” he asked. “It was quite a simple yet beautiful construction. You have my earnest compliments, Caster.”

The Caster huffed, her ears twitching once more. “I thank you for your compliments, your majesty,” she murmured. “Though it wouldn’t do to flatter one such as me. I have been known to bring kingdoms to ruin, after all.” The threat wasn’t exactly very subtle, leaving Ritsu gulping as Mash glanced between the two anxiously.

Caesar nodded sagely. “Yes, I would’ve thought as such, Tamamo-no-Mae,” he replied understandingly. All three immediately turned to stare at the emperor in shock, who only chuckled. “Come now, it wasn’t too hard a matter to solve,” he remarked. “A talisman is an Eastern form of magecraft, and Caster has a fox tail and ears. Coupled with her comment about bringing kingdoms to ruin and there are precious few who matched all points. Your reactions were simply the last bit of confirmation I needed.”

Once he finished explaining, he took a cup of wine and happily drank. Ritsu and Mash could only look at each other wide-eyed before turning to look at Tamamo. The Caster looked equal parts embarrassed and infuriated she had been figured out so quickly. It was evident that despite all her warnings, she had also underestimated the Roman emperor as well. They were at every disadvantage now. Caesar knew far too much about them and they had learned nothing so far except his decadence.

“So, your majesty,” Mash hesitatingly called out, drawing the emperor’s attention. “We heard your speech the other day. It’s clear that you are loyal to the Roman empire. May we ask why you wish to fight against the empire?”

Caesar raised an eyebrow. “Why, have I not explained the other day?” he asked. “It’s to bring the empire back to its full glory. As it is now, the strength of the Roman Empire wanes by the day, with its people wavering in terms of loyalty and strength. It is a simple matter of prodding at the seams and watching it all rupture. It is a most saddening sight for me. And thus, I fight.”

“So, what, you’re gonna do your usual shtick then?” Ritsu asked, raising an eyebrow (both Mash and Caesar noted the Master had already piled her plate high with food to their surprise, but that was neither here nor there). “You’re just gonna conquer whatever you see just like you did in life? I suppose old habits die hard.”

The emperor blinked, then boomed with laughter. “Ha! Indeed!” he declared. “As I have declared in life, ‘Veni, Vidi, Vici!’ If the Roman empire stands as my opposition, then I simply must do the same as I always have! That is my prerogative, after all, as an emperor!”

Ritsu forced a grin on her face. While she admired the man in front of her, there was no doubt that his words sent cold shivers down her spine. “Guess death doesn’t entirely change a person, does it?” she asked, fighting to keep the snark out of her tone. “Especially one as ambitious and glorious as one in your station.”

Caesar once more laughed, but as he looked back at Ritsu, his eyes had become much sharper. Was it in anger? Was it a challenge? Or was it something else entirely? Either way, the Master was transfixed by the man’s stare. “Death is many things, young Master,” he answered. He was still smiling, but it was a far more complicated one than Ritsu had ever seen on a person. “As is life. A Servant of all people should be aware of both, and what it can teach.”

“And what did they teach?” Mash asked quietly.

The emperor didn’t answer for a moment as his smile slowly fell. “That sometimes, glory beyond measure is not worth as much as one thinks,” he replied quietly. For a moment, the proud former ruler of Rome looked considerably diminished. No longer was the glorious conqueror and dominator of countless lands. In his place now was a man who looked tired, battered by life, and filled with regrets.

A moment later, however, Caesar regained his composure as if remembering where he was and who he was talking to. “But that matters little in the present,” he declared. “In the end, my sword shall cleave a new path through this old empire. I shall be the sole one to sit upon the throne at the end, regardless of those in front, beside, or behind me! Thus, I shall declare once more – Veni, Vidi, Vici!” With that declaration, he threw his head back and loudly laughed.

Ritsu huffed an impatient breath. The emperor had set the entire pace and tone of the conversation. They had far too little they could go on. Still, he had his customary pride that could only come from being a Roman emperor, and one of the most well-known ones too. His declarations were especially boastful, saying that his sword would cleave a new path through the old (and supposedly, his) empire. Wait… his sword…

The redhead’s eyes widened as she began thinking about what he had just said in front of them. Did he let something slip? She glanced back up at Caesar and saw that his eyes and smile softened into a nigh-genuinely happy, warm expression. No, he didn’t ‘let’ it slip. It was deliberate.

With a shock, she remembered Leonidas and what he said as well as how he acted. She immediately connected the pieces together. Both him and Caesar were in the same position.

“Now then, I believe I have regaled you with my speeches enough,” Caesar declared. “Come, the food is getting cold, and I will not have my guests leave here hungry tonight.”

Ritsu and Mash glanced at each other once more, then decided there was nothing for it, and tucked in. Tamamo also did the same, albeit in a far more reserved manner. The habits she had gained throughout her life weren’t about to easily leave her, after all, excellent foreign cuisine or not.

And if Caesar had actually noticed what the Caster had been doing the entire time he had been talking to Ritsu and Mash, he showed no sign of it.