I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

"Aren't we supposed to return Qiqi to her owner as soon as possible?"

Holding the softly meowing kitten, Tokisaki Kurumi glanced sidelong at Melusine with the one eye not hidden behind her bangs, a trace of amusement flickering in her gaze.

"But we can't just ignore someone who needs help, can we?"

Melusine's tone was indifferent. "Besides, it was no trouble at all."

Just moments ago, the two of them had run into a robbery in progress. A young man had been mugged at knifepoint and had his money stolen.

The knife glittered coldly in the assailant's hand—enough to send most people into a panic. But Melusine was not "most people."

Subduing the robber had taken no time. As she said, it was just a flick of the wrist.

And when Melusine returned the stolen money to the boy, he thanked her profusely—as if those bills were his entire tuition, and losing them would've ended his future.

"That really was 'no trouble'?"

Kurumi's lips curved into a smile, watching Melusine's profile with a glint of curiosity. "That speed you just showed didn't exactly seem… human. Aren't you afraid of exposing yourself?"

"Technically, what I just did didn't exceed human limits. There are martial artists in Huaxia who can perform similar feats with ease."

"…Huh?"

Kurumi's flirty smile froze in place, a massive question mark practically hovering over her head.

She'd seen Melusine move just now—one blink, and the girl had shot forward thirty meters. And now she was claiming that wasn't beyond human capacity? That martial artists from China could do the same?

Are we sure you're talking about martial artists and not cultivators?!

What kind of absurd wuxia world are you living in?!

"There's no need to worry about exposure," Melusine added calmly. "Anyone who saw will just think I'm someone who knows a bit of martial arts. Besides, I'm acquainted with most of the people around here."

She swept a glance across the onlookers. She could name at least 80% of them on the spot.

It wasn't her first time showing extraordinary abilities in public. People had long filled in the blanks for her, chalking it up to "she trained in martial arts while in China."

Which worked out well—when she once hoisted a heavy crate no adult could lift, the bystanders just accepted it. Over time, Melusine adopted the "trained in Huaxia" explanation by default.

She wasn't even lying. She had trained in bajiquan.

As for why people defaulted to Huaxia rather than other regions… well, in every world, China tended to be mythologized. A land of mysterious, unexplainable phenomena. Some detective fiction even banned Chinese characters for being "too capable."

While Melusine pondered, Kurumi quietly leaned closer, sneaking a look at her face.

She was trying to see if Melusine had been joking.

Kurumi couldn't believe any human could move like that. Even magicians from AST and DEM needed manifesting devices to fight Spirits. The so-called strongest magician, Ellen, was helpless against three high school girls without her gear.

So what—Melusine's saying martial artists in China could beat those magicians barehanded?

But Melusine's face was as cold and unreadable as a block of ice. Kurumi couldn't glean a thing.

This Lancelot is impossible to deal with!

Kurumi was getting genuinely frustrated. She loved teasing people—but Melusine was completely immune to it.

Like trying to flirt with a brick wall.

And the worst part? Kurumi couldn't beat her.

Shidou is still better—tease him a little and he turns bright red, stumbling over his words. So innocent. So sweet. So... tasty...

The thought of that delightful herbivore made Kurumi lick her lips, a flash of red tongue slipping out to moisten them.

Just then, Melusine walked off again without a word.

It turned out she'd spotted an elderly man struggling to push a cart uphill—and went over to help.

The incline wasn't impossible, but it was tough for someone that age. Melusine made short work of it.

Afterward, she and Kurumi continued on their way to return the cat.

"You know… do you want to become a champion of justice or something?"

Melusine turned, surprised by the sudden question.

"I have no such aspiration," she replied plainly. "I've never considered myself someone who stands on the side of 'justice.' And, in my experience, people who seek that title rarely end well."

Emiya Kiritsugu. Emiya Shirou. Their tragic lives had turned the label hero of justice into a sort of curse.

Kurumi blinked.

Then gave a quiet, bitter smile.

"…You're right."

People who sought to be heroes of justice never ended well. She was living proof of that.

She'd thought she was chosen—defeating "monsters" to protect the peace of the city. But those monsters turned out to be failed experiments. Innocents. She had simply been someone else's blade.

By the time she realized it, it was too late. Even her dearest friend… had died by her own hand.

"…Sawa."

Melusine looked over, but by then Kurumi had already masked her emotions again, wearing that elegant, alluring smile like always.

"What is it?"

She tilted her head, smile bright as ever.

Melusine didn't answer. She simply stared at Kurumi for a moment before turning away.

That cold demeanor again. Kurumi genuinely wondered if anything in this world could move her.

"Thank you! Thank you both so much for bringing Qiqi back—I was so worried…"

After returning the cat to its owner, both girls were showered in gratitude.

"You should thank Kurumi," Melusine said immediately. "I may have found Qiqi, but it was Kurumi who calmed her down."

Before Kurumi could react, Melusine shoved her forward—completely catching her off guard.

The next thing Kurumi knew, her hand was being clasped warmly by the cat's owner.

Later, as they walked away, Melusine turned to find Kurumi standing there with arms crossed, a look of mild annoyance on her face.

"Why'd you push me out like that?"

"I thought you'd be happy."

Melusine blinked, her amber eyes gleaming like polished amber. "You were smiling when she took your hand."

"…"

It was true. Kurumi had smiled.

For just a moment, she'd felt like her old self again—before becoming a Spirit. Before all the killing. When she was just a clumsy girl who'd fall out of trees trying to rescue kittens and make Sawa worry sick over her.

Seeing Melusine help people so naturally reminded Kurumi of herself. That was why she'd asked if Melusine wanted to be a hero.

Sawa had asked her that once, too.

If only Sawa were still alive...

If only everything since she became a Spirit were just a bad dream...

That was Kurumi's wish—and she believed she had the means to make it come true.

If only she could go back. To the time before the tragedy began…

"Then, if you'll excuse this lady for now…"

She curtsied gracefully, lifting her skirt just so. In that moment, she truly looked like a noble young lady.

Having completed the mission of returning Qiqi, Kurumi saw no need to linger.

She didn't want to stay near Melusine any longer. These resurfaced memories had left her shaken.

If her true body had been here, it might've been different. But she was only a clone—from an earlier point in time. Far less composed than her original self.

Her shoes melted into the shadows at her feet, slowly swallowing her body in a way that might unsettle ordinary people.

With a smile on her lips and a sultry voice, Kurumi offered her farewell:

"Today's been a truly delightful little adventure. I hope we'll meet again soon."

Melusine paused, then asked, "Really?"

No, of course not!

Kurumi hadn't expected her polite pleasantry to be taken seriously.

Was Melusine really this easy to fool? Could she be bribed with just three lollipops?

"…By the way."

Melusine's voice came low and serious. Her gilded eyes locked onto Kurumi's.

"Kurumi. Do you like Shidou?"

Kurumi froze. She hadn't expected that question at all. But after a moment of surprise, she laughed, trailing a finger along her lips.

"Ara ara… asking such a scandalous question…"

She brushed her blushing cheek with slender, pale fingers. "If I must answer whether I like him or not… then yes. I do. So much that I want to eat Shidou-kun up in one bite."

Her voice was laced with dangerous sweetness, and she peeked at Melusine from under her lashes, trying to gauge her reaction.

If it had been Yoshino, she'd probably have short-circuited in embarrassment. If it were Origami, she'd be ready to kill Kurumi on the spot.

But this was Melusine.

And Melusine showed no reaction at all.

That stoic calmness baffled Kurumi. She knew Melusine was a Spirit. She thought Melusine might like Shidou. But nothing about her demeanor confirmed it.

"Then it's settled," Melusine said flatly. "I'd like you to protect Shidou for a while. The Spirit he'll be encountering next… won't be easy."

Kurumi blinked again. Melusine went on.

"During the attempt to seal the Yamai sisters, DEM took notice. They'll probably make their move soon."

Melusine then gave a brief explanation of Miku Izayoi's powers and personality.

"That yuri girl can only control weak-willed people. If Tohka and the others hadn't had their powers sealed, she wouldn't be a threat. But right now, they're vulnerable."

"If we're unlucky, Shidou could end up with the whole world against him."

"…I see."

Kurumi tapped her chin thoughtfully. "That is troublesome. Sounds like Shidou's in for a rough time… But tell me—how exactly does he plan to approach someone who hates men?"

"Cross-dressing."

Melusine didn't even blink. "By the way, Shidou's surprisingly good at it."

"Ara ara… now you've got my attention."

Kurumi's eyes sparkled, her voice practically bouncing with excitement.

"Shidou in drag… I'm dying to see it. Dying!"

"But still…"

She gave Melusine a sly look.

"With you around, does Shidou-kun really need my protection?"

"In open battle, I can defeat any enemy."

Melusine shook her head. "But protection is different. I can't be everywhere at once. You, with your clones, can cover gaps I cannot."

"Besides, I have other obligations. I can't always stay by Shidou's side."

Like rescuing Honjou Nia—that ancient auntie. Lately, Melusine had been flying over the Pacific whenever she had spare time, just to stretch her wings.

"Hmm~? Are you sure that's wise?"

Kurumi's eyes narrowed, a faintly ominous gleam flickering in them.

"Aren't you afraid I'll eat him while you're gone? I am the most wicked Spirit—Nightmare."

"But you said you liked Shidou, didn't you?"

Their eyes met—and Kurumi tried to read something, anything, from those brilliant golden irises.

But they burned too brightly. Her eyes stung. She saw nothing.

"…Fine. I understand your reasoning."

Kurumi closed her eyes, and the pain faded.

"I don't mind helping Shidou. Like you said—I do like him. If anything happened to him, it'd break my heart…"

She peeked open one eye, her voice turning silky.

"But… if you want my help, don't you think you should offer me something in return?"

She fully intended to get some kind of benefit out of this.

After all, Melusine was a powerful Spirit capable of triggering an S-class spatial quake. She had plenty of time and spirit energy to spare.

Kurumi didn't need all of it—just a taste would be more than worth it.

Just like with Shidou, whose body carried the sealed powers of multiple Spirits, Melusine had long been on her menu.

Upon hearing her request, Melusine tilted her head in confusion… then nodded with sudden understanding.

By this point, Kurumi's body was already halfway swallowed by shadow.

Then—

Melusine reached out, yanked her straight out of the shadows, and held her up by the collar.

Staring into her eyes, Melusine said seriously:

"Kurumi. I require your assistance."

This isn't what I meant by "offer me something," damn it!!

Lancelot, you son of a—!!!

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T/N: LMAOOOOOOOOOO