The Thirsty Girl's Guide To Summoning (Fate/Isekai)

Chapter 29

Ren found herself backing away from Astolfo's grin and stopped herself. Astolfo, knight of Charlemagne, definitely qualified as a hero, but he wasn't exactly an ideal Servant. Restless, bright, playful and troublingly independent; backing away from him could only lead to trouble later on.

Breathlessly, she said, "Now. Astolfo, I'll brief you in a few minutes but first I need to deal with—Cú! There you are." She bestowed a grateful smile on the Irish Lancer as he stepped to her side.

His eyes widened as he looked down at her. "My lady—" He shook his head, cancelling whatever he'd been intending to say. "You want I should go deal with the beastie in the woods?"

She wanted to hug him. Sensible, sane, trustworthy Cú Chulainn. She didn't want to imagine where she'd be now without him. "Yes, exactly. Keep an eye out for the little boy, but let's start by eliminating the biggest threat."

His eyes teasing, he said, "You don't want me to capture it, or tame it, or anything like that?"

Ren answered seriously, "Only if that's easier than just destroying it. We have too much going on right now for games and I'd like this resolved as soon as possible. Lord Kirri's due the dawn after tomorrow's."

With a nod, Cú vanished. Ren stared at where he'd been and then looked around. Astolfo now knelt beside Ritsu and Tora, looking at Ritsu's book as the younger girl waved her arms and talked. Merlin still sprawled against the wall, his head down. But Jekyll watched her, his face impassive.

To him, she said, "You said the Count of Monte Cristo left, just as Ritsu's nemesis in the woods did, yeah?"

Jekyll nodded. "He'll need to acquire magical energy somehow, or he'll disappear quickly."

Ren found she didn't have room to fret over what the Avenger might do to prolong his stay. "I doubt we'll end up at cross-purposes. Uh, when you have the opportunity, will you think about ways to form a contract with a Heroic Spirit who rejects their True Name?"

With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, Jekyll said, "I'm a theorist, not a miracle worker, miss. But I'll try."

"Thank you. Meanwhile... I need you to come with me. Ritsu, Tora! Stay down here with Astolfo, please. Show him the kitchens. Get dinner started."

Astolfo barely glanced at her, laughing at something that pleased him, but both Tora and Ritsu looked at her and nodded acknowledgement. She had the impression that both of them thought they were also being asked to keep the other out of the way and, well, at least one of them was right.

Now for the first step in getting Ritsu's kids back: asking.

With Jekyll behind her, she went upstairs and over to her bed, where Jack dozed. Brushing the child's hair away from her eyes, she said softly, "Jack. I need you to come be my secret weapon."

Jack's eyes fluttered open and she smiled. "I was just dreaming of you."

Ren stroked her head. "Go to spirit form for now, and stay with me. Don't let anybody attack me." She looked over at Jekyll. "You too."

After both Assassins had dematerialized, Ren ran her hands through her hair and straightened her clothes before crossing the Great Hall to the keep exit. But as she was in the midst of stepping outside, Merlin materialized within the frame, causing her to smash into him.

"Are you really about to go talk to the enemies at the gates with no more guard than two dematerialized Assassins?" demanded Merlin, with an apparently inexhaustible supply of irritation. Clearly he'd given up on the moment of normal behavior he'd displayed in the portal room. Maybe it had just been a show for Astolfo.