.

My peace was disrupted.

"Please help us. I beg thee."

I blink at the offender, propping my axe against the chopping block.

She was diminutive, most people were compared to me, and skinny. Young, though she was already a mother of two, yet still managed to maintain a waifish impression.

Coffee brown hair in a ponytail, oak brown eyes framed by long eyelashes and a smattering of brown freckles on tan weathered skin. She wore a light brown tunic and dark brown long skirt held in place by a brown leather belt.

Average enough, but pretty in a simple way. Something I've come to appreciate here.

I blink again. Then sniff.

'She's had a bath.'

Strange.

There was less grime in her hair, the usual soil and sweat smell was absent, even as she wrung her hands nervously I noticed the lack of dirt beneath her finger-nails.

Looking again, her clothes, although simple, were also rather clean, there was a lack of frayed edges… there were also buttons.

I narrow my eyes.

Buttons were a sign of wealth at this time, excess material meant to show of one's fortunes.

'Or make a good impression...'

This one had dressed up for me. To beg for help.

'It must be pretty bad.'

"Where's the chief?" The one who usually came to "deal" with me.

"Dead." How succinct.

"... I see. Why are you here? What about his eldest son?"

"He…" she fidgeted… more that is. "He sent me."

She looked at me with upturned eyes, they were starting getting moist, her lip trembled.

'Oh boy.' But I remained impassive. I'd been screwed over by a ploy that started like this once and that was enough. It won't happen again.

"He sent me to beg aid," she took a breath, and curtsied slowly. Her legs were trembling. "If it pleases, thee has mine body at thy mercy should sir help…"

I close my eyes. I can't even get angry. This is just how it is here.

The mother, I don't even know her name, taking my lack of response a bad way, starts to panic.

Her eyes well up with tears and she starts shaking.

"S-Sir, I b-beg of the-" Stuttering and quivering, she found herself choking on her words. She began to fumble with the buttons of her tunic, clearly unused to such a luxury.

She was trying to strip for me.

'Goddammit.'

She couldn't undo the buttons with trembling fingers, her knees drop, dirtying her skirt, she looked like she was about to break down.

She looks at me.

"Stop." The light stops fading from her eyes.

I sigh. Covering the distance between us in few steps, I haul her to her feet from under the armpit.

'So light.'

She barely came up to my stomach. He head was tilted fully back just to see my face at this close proximity.

"Don't you have a husband?" Or is it bad enough for the husband to endorse her cheating on him for the good of the village?

"Died with the Chief." Her tears well up once more.

'Oops.'

I step back and bow a fraction.

"My condolences."

She panics at my bow, even if she doesn't know the word she got my gesture. She still panics though. Not sure where to look her head swivels anywhere but me, unknowing of what to do.

"N-n-nay, ah, I-I me-" She chokes once more. Words stuck in her throat. I feel for her. Once more she curtsies, once more with legs trembling, but this time her head is lowered, looking at the ground.

"I thank thee." I could only barely hear her whisper.

"... Come. We will talk further inside." I walk to my "hut" and she follows, still keeping her head lowered.

'I only woke up a few hours ago and I already want to go to sleep…'

.

.

Incidents like that became increasingly common after I dealt with the first it.

"It" in this case being the Phantasmal Species: Goblin.

As in, real (as much as I) living, breathing, raping, raiding, Goblin marauders. Green little shits who live to fuck and murder. Seven of them.

I killed them all.

It was anticlimactic, as many things seem to be.

Myself, equipped with a Fae enchanted wooden cudgel and woodcutter's axe,butchered them.

My bugs guided me to their temporary camp and hid me under illusion till I got close enough, then I saw.

Then I acted.

Two little green heads were knocked clean off their necks with a single sweep of my cudgel. Another head was split in two by my axe. Another neck was broken by my kick. A skull was caved in by my elbow. An eye pierced by the broken shaft of my axe. The final was strangled to death in my bare hands.

It lasted less than a minute.

The bodies of defiled women returned to their villages, half eaten corpses of men recovered, and bound children were freed.

Of those women I am told only half survived to the next year, and half again were willing to leave their homes.

The men were burned in great pires. Their families would go hungry in the coming winter.

The children who watched as mother and sisters were raped, whilst fathers and brothers eaten, would return home with nary a bruise or cut. However innocence was lost to their eyes forevermore.

More people would come to me after that.

I accepted them all.

There were some incidents here and there, such as breaking the Chief's son for tolling those who would come for my aid, and anointing the brown haired women as my official correspondent, then later housing both her and her two daughters in my "hut"...

I received money, weapons, clothes and animals for my service, but I tended to only take what I needed and gave the rest to the families of those affected.

Myself, my bugs and a family of three lived like that in relative "peace" for a time.

Two weeks I spent in a village recovering from my arrival. A day on the road I met Mordred. A month more I spent wandering the lands. A month further I spent in solitude at the edge of a new village. A month later I was accommodating a family. A month later I was celebrating my nineteenth birthday.

A year added I was celebrating my twentieth.

A day after I had a visitor.

...

A somewhat distressed voice greeted my return to the hut from a successful day of hunting.

At first I thought it was someone new come for aid, but the voice was too cultured, it was not panicked or begging but... embarrassed?

Sheepish? A tad awkward?

I raise an eyebrow and as I listen.

"My ladies, please, I beg, I just want to speak with the one known as Sir Giant-kin. I mean no harm-" The voice wasn't deep but mellow. I sensed no malice.

"Liar!" Ah, it was one of the girls.

"Ye attacked Banana!" Heh. Banana is one of my bugs.

"I'm sorry! It was simply by accident, I swear to thee."

I can guess what's happened. Banana is always a bit in your face, but the girls love him. The guy must have swatted him on reflex.

The girls also know this. They're probably just teasing him because they're bored.

I look to the home guard bugs, their lack of action and continued laziness confirm the guest bears no ill intent.

That or he's skilled enough to hide it from my bugs, or has already swayed the bugs and girls to his side as to set a trap for me.

'In which case worrying would do no good 'cause I'd be screwed anyway.'

I approach the back of the "hut" from the woods, carrying a large boar over my shoulder effortlessly.

From this angle the voices are on directly the opposite side of the three-story "hut" from me.

The half of the swarm that always accompanies me bump into the lazing home guard as greeting, and they all follow me as I move towards the voices.

"Ye also wear armour and fine cloth! Ye are a noble!" One bell-like voice exclaims like it's an insult.

"Sir Giant-kin always said not to trust nobles because they'll kidnap us-for-being-so-pretty-and-sell-us-to-ugly-ladies-'cause-they're-jealous! You'll never take us alive fiend!" A younger tinkling voice rushes out.

"Wha-!"

"Noble's dog!"

"Goblin-brained bogie!"

"Dirty-minded imp!"

"Hentai orc-spawn!"

"Flat-chest maniac!"

""Lolicon!""

"Gwah!"

'... My girls…' I wipe a tear from the eye. 'They grow up so fast.'

Overflowing parental pride aside, the guy is probably not a bad one.

He's let the girls play with him for so long, the bugs don't react to his presence, and none of the intent wards have been tripped.

With that in mind I walk around my "hut" to relieve him of his torture.

"Virgin!"

"Cherry-boy!"

'Ouch.'

"That's enough girls," I interrupt their metaphysical teabagging, "I'm here now."

"Sir Giant-kin!" They rush up and hug my legs. One twelve, one ten, both girls. Both with brown hair and brown eyes. Little versions of their mother.

They giggle as a pick them up with ease, sitting on my forearms with their hands resting on my shoulders as I hold them at eye level. They both give me a kiss on the cheek and speak their usual greeting.

"I love you more than she does!" It feels nice to be so wanted.

"Where's your mother." I ask with a chuckle. Gods I feel like a father.

"The village-"

"Radish and a few others accompanied her-"

"She'll be back soon-"

"Never mind that-"

""Play with us?""

Both hug my neck and give me puppy dog eyes. At times like these more more twins than sisters.

"Sorry girls. This looks slightly important." They pout but let go. "Go play in your rooms, I'll tell you a bedtime story later."

Their eyes lit up, previous (feigned) disappointment forgotten. They new I couldn't play, but wanted to get something out of it anyway. Little imps.

I watch as they run to the "hut" and up the stairs to their bedrooms.

"Well then," I turn, smile dropping but not unfriendly, "who might ye be?"

"Ah," straightening up from the floor whence he was smite, the man addresses me with a bow. "Greeting Sir Giant-kin."

He stands tall and faces me with a straight back.

"I am Sir Gaheris, Knight of the Round Table. I have come today to treat with thee." He talks with dignity, largely unphased by my height and accompanying swarm. "May we talk?"

I'm mildly impressed.

'I feel a new chapter is starting.'

"... Come in."

'Will we be seeing the king soon I wonder…'

The two of us walk into the darkness of my hut.

.

.

"So, once more, I must ask how many traps have you planted for the upcoming, time-honoured tradition of indiscriminate murder of this generation's Murder-Death-Kill?"

"... You mean the Holy Grail War?"

"Did I stutter?"

"... Aghhhhhh… This is gonna be a thing with you isn't it."

"You know me so well."

"..."

"So? Traps?"

"... It is beneath a magus such as I to u-"

"No traps then. Surveillance system?"

"... I am the Second Owner of this town, I need n-"

"No surveillance system then. Do you know who else has summoned?"

"... No."

Hmmm.

Well then.

"Y'know…" I smile at her, "other than a decent mana supply, you're a pretty shit Contractor..."

Her eye twitches as she flushes.

"Like, really fucking pathetic..."

Starting to tremble.

"As in, top-class weakling…"

Though, of embarrassment of anger I know not.

"You call yourself a magus and all, but…"

But who cares.

"Really, the weak-link namby-pamby is y-"

"SABEER-!"

I move in quickly, slinging one arm around her shoulder and pulling her to my chest, other hand cupping her chin with my thumb on her lower lip.

This is fun. This needs to be said.

"But, as my Princess I adore you regardless." I spoke with absolute sincerity. My voice light but my eyes solemn. Her pupils enlarge, voice stops, face flush, breath quickens…

Thank you Charisma.

Ahhhh. This isn't good.

'I want to bully her more.'

Why must I be like this?

"You know what they say," my thumb strokes her lip as I lean in, voice breathy as I speak, "The dumber the kid the cuter they are."

A beat passes.

She freezes. Realises our position. Remembers what I said. Realises what I just said.

Cue eye twitch.

'Oh, I heard the illusionary snap again. I think I'm getting the hang of this.'

"Saber." She says sweetly, not moving from her position or minding my thumb.

"Yes Princess?"

"I will make you suffer."

I smile. Sharp canines shine. Pit forms in my stomach.

"I look forward to it Princess."

'That's not what I wanted to say...'

We smile at each other, staring deep into each other's eyes.

Ahhh. not good at all.

My arm tightens around her waist as I move my hand to tuck a hair behind her ear.

'I want to bully her more~'

I think I'm getting addicted.

'Why must I be like this?'

"Ahm... Am I interrupting something…?"

My smile drops. Killjoy. Thank you.

I reluctantly release Rin and face the offender with a slight glare.

It seems the gal we were waiting for has arrived. She flinches a bit at my glare and looks rather awkward.

'Well... I don't really blame her.'

I lower the glare to her visible relief. I'm sorry.

"You were but that doesn't matter." It totally does. "Today we have come to meet with your boss. We would like to talk with Fujimura Raiga."

The "Yakuza house receptionist" looks taken back, then gathers her courage to glare at me.

"Listen here boyo, you can-"

"Tell him it will be the same as ten years ago." I interrupt. "He'll know what it means."

She stops. Maybe at the cryptic words or the utmost seriousness in my voice, but she stopped.

My mind was clear. My voice was clear. My purpose was clear.

"... I'll give him a call." She reaches to the telephone in her booth.

Pulling Rin into my arms absentmindedly, I rest my chin on her head.

'It's a start.'

Looking down into my contractors hair I sigh. She's not reacting, I teased her to much before.

'Why's it always all or nothing with me…'

"I'm sorry." I started. Placing my lips on her scalp, I began to talk to her. Both physically and mentally.

"You're my dumb but pretty Princess that I adore, I treasure you, never doubt that." I let my words vibrate into her head. "So as someone who cares for your well being above all… I beg you." She twitches in my arms. "Put away with that Magus arrogance for a while? Please?"

My arms tighten around her as I began to rock her back and forth in gentle swaying. I close my eyes, pressing down into her hair further.

"I'm not telling you to do away with pride or honour." She's at the perfect height, "I amI knight when all is said and done," her head is at my chest, eye level with my collar bone. "But arrogance will get you killed." She fits perfectly in my arms, like a bird coming home to nest.

I wonder what expression she's making. I wonder what expression I'm making.

"You would get killed…" I breath in her scent and speak. "That will not stand." My tone is iron. "That is not allowed." My arms are iron. "I will not permit it." My will is steel. "So please?" But I am weak.

A beat passes. Then two. There is no answer. My heart was about sink. I grit my teeth. My eyes darken. Would I have to use drastic measures?

But then she answers.

Not verbally, or even mentally. But it was enough, nay it was more than enough.

She nestles into me, pushing her head into my clothes, feeling our warmth combine. Her thin, twiggy arms snake under mine, settling around my back.

I stiffen. Hardly believing it. But it was real.

I held her in a vice like grip, not tight, but unmoving. She held me in a delicate hug, unsure and uncertain. I could feel her emotions through our bond.

They were turbulent. At putting down her arrogance, hugging me back or something else… I did not care.

I do not hug her tighter, I do not sway with her more, but it feels different.

My smile widens as I kiss the top of her head.

"Thank you Princess."

I weight is lifted from my shoulders. This time I do tighten my hug, this time I do sway more, even spinning around with her.

I am happy. I am content.

Of course it had to be interrupted.

"Oyabun has agreed to see you." This time I don't glare, she's only doing her job, but I do sigh.

Once more releasing Rin, this time with even more reluctance, I face the sorta-receptionist lady.

She was looking at us with a rather subtle expression.

"Just head on through, someone will guide you the rest of the way.

I nod at her and hold Rin at arms length.

She had a rather dazed look on her face, and her hair was slightly mussed up from the hug.

I guess she was getting comfortable too.

"Just… for things like this follow my lead, okay?" I meant to look at her confidently, but in the end it was slightly pleadingly. I was scared her agreement earlier was just a spur of the moment.

However my worry was unneeded. She didn't talk, but she did nod.

I'm slightly worried at her lack of chatter, this disposition was vastly different from when we first met, but it can wait.

'My victory is your victory, I will yield all glory and spoil to you.' I remind her of what I promised when we first met.

She opened her to talk mouth but nothing came out. My heart skipped a beat, but then settles. It was just her throat had gotten dry. She nodded more firmly instead.

Slightly disappointed at not hearing her talk, but glad she was getting out whatever funk she was in, I smile widely, eyes closing as I did.

Had they not closed, I may have noticed the conflicted look in her eyes.

'But then again maybe not. I'm rather dense when it matters.'

.