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

Chapter 35

The Master of Raven Tower sent Ren out with a ball of foxfire and Astolfo as her guides, and Hyde followed along. Going down the stairs seemed much faster than going up had been, and they emerged into a sunny afternoon on a paved walkway surrounding a large campus quad.

Young adults in student uniforms dotted the autumnal leaf-covered lawn, some with animals or otherwise inhuman companions flanking them. None of them gave Ren and her companions a second glance, even though she and Astolfo were both dressed very unusually in comparison. Somehow, walking along as if she were just another student in this fantastic school made her very uncomfortable. She didn't belong here and she didn't want to be tricked into thinking she did.

A familiar voice caught her attention, and she frowned, looking into the quad. After a moment, her gaze settled on a cluster of three students she recognized. All of their familiars had shrunk down to the size of housecats, but they were the champions of Lord Kirri all the same. The big bearded Theory looked rather unusual in his student uniform, but Shina and Blue Violet fit right in, even though Blue Violet had managed to hang onto their mask.

Ren paused, looking at them. "Are they participating in the Grail War?"

"Nope," said Astolfo, and tugged on her hand. "Come on."

But the ball of foxfire had more to say, in Jonathan's voice. "No, this environment is serving as a sufficient interface for their part in the harvest ritual, and they're happy here. Happier than I would have anticipated, honestly."

Ren pulled her mouth to one side, dissatisfied. But there was no point in contemplating the fate of her enemies when her allies still needed to be reclaimed, so she kept walking. Eventually they stepped off the paved path and went around one of the big stone buildings and to a small door in a small building in a copse of trees.

Jonathan's voice said, "This leads down to the cave where we've confined the monstrous one. I've notified his caretakers to get out of your way. He's under a secondary spell at the moment, one designed to allow us to all stay safe. It can't compete with the stronger magics bound into him, but while they're passive, it serves. Once he's dealt with his current crop of toys, you'll have your chance to interact with him. If he kills you, it will be quite real, but I assume you can handle him."

"I have to," said Ren, and went through the door. The tiny building contained little more than some shelves, some crates and a large stairwell leading down. Without looking back, she went down the stairs, and felt both Hyde and Astolfo follow her.

The stairs opened onto an excavated stone tunnel, which curved back and forth as she hurried down it. At the far end, there was another door, criss-crossed with chains, but with the padlock that secured them open—presumably left that way by Cú's caretakers. She wondered how they'd departed, for it wasn't the way she'd come. As soon as she touched the door, her fingers tingled hot and cold, and a bestial roar echoed in her ears.

"Well? Go on," said Hyde impatiently, fidgeting with his knife.

"There's an observation booth, Rendidi," said Astolfo reassuringly. "It won't actually stop him from getting to you, but it'll at least slow him down."

That not-very-comforting thought made Ren roll her eyes, but she pushed the door open and stepped through.

The main of the space beyond was a large, round chamber with a shallow dome for a roof, and a constructed stone alcove near the door with tiny windows looking inward. A niche cut into the wall housed a large machine with a life-sized mannequin of clay standing in the cage at the front. And in the center of the room sat Cú Chulainn, Child of Light, in a most monstrous guise.

From his hips down, he'd become almost draconic, complete with a spiked tail and enormous, taloned feet that made his spike-covered legs seem even longer. His bare chest spasmed with too much knotting muscle for his frame, and his face had been contorted by a perpetual grimace.