Chapter 6: The treasure box

The moment Medea confirmed the contract, Haruki felt something flowing through his body.

[Medea is added to the 'Potential Partners' list.]

Medea stared wide-eyed at something behind him. He looked over his shoulder to find nothing.

"Is something wrong?"

Medea shook her head with a tiny smile that tugged at Haruki's heart. "Nothing. You can call me Caster.”

“Alright.”

“Would it be okay for me to rest? We've to use any chance to save our magical energy.”

"No problem.”

Haruki got up and left the room. He went to the living room and took a seat on the couch. He was itching to check the Partners list.

“Partners list.”

The list popped up instantly.

[Partners]

None

[Potential Partners]

Medea: A Sorcerer from the Age of Gods and your current Servant, tied to you by the Fuyuki Holy Grail System.

-Current Status — Confused over your mana exceeding low-class Servants.

-Relationship Status — 11/100

-Species — Spirit

-Age — Uncountable

-Gender — Female

-Height, Weight — 163cm/51kg

-Alignment — Neutral Evil

-Parameters

Strength: 10 (E)

Endurance: 21 (D)

Agility: 32 (C)

Magical energy: 54 (A)

Luck: 40 (B)

-Authorities

None

-Noble Phantasm

Rule Breaker

Description: An anti-magic Noble Phantasm capable of destroying and dispelling any Magecraft.

-Skills

Rapid Words of Divine [A]

Info: Using the Age of Gods, Medea can cast spells without the use of Magic Circuits.

Item Construction [A]

Info: A skill inherent to the Caster Class. Medea can construct magical items far superior to modern magi.

Territory Creation [A]

Info: A skill inherent to the Caster Class. Medea can convert any place into her territory to gather mana from the surroundings.

The system chose Medea as a potential partner. He didn’t mind having Medea as a lover after he was done resurrecting his mother.

‘One step at a time. Let’s start with earning her trust. Arch, you love to invade people’s privacy, don’t you?’

Answer: No. It’s for your own good. You can conquer your potential partners easily with this.

‘Eleven out of hundred points. How much is that?’

Answer: 0-10 points — Stranger, 11-20 points — Acquaintance, 21-50 points — Friends, 51-75 — Loyal friends, 76-99 — More than a friend, less than a lover, 100 and above — Lover.

‘Acquaintance is not bad.’

Haruki compared her stats to the servant’s stats he recalled. Artoria had an A-Rank in almost all parameters, showing how powerful of a servant she was. Medea’s skills also weren’t that overwhelming. He had to work hard to compensate for her weaknesses, starting with summoning the Assassin Class Servant before someone else does it. Especially Zouken, the old ancestor of the Matou Clan. That old mage will ruin everything if he summons Hassan of the Cursed Arm. He’d rather not fight someone who could crush his heart without properly fighting him.

This war was certainly going to be a hell of a battle.

"Mom, just you wait. I'll have you by my side, or I'll die trying."

A chilly wind brushed past his face. For a moment, he thought it was his mother, who did this to encourage him. He slapped his cheeks to shake off the depression.

‘What about my magic circuits?’

They were essential in casting any kind of spell. Having this much mana would be a waste without them.

Answer: A dragon exerts its dominance on the mana itself to cast spells. You don’t need magic circuits for that.

This goddess might be into BDSM. Thinking such, Haruki chuckled.

‘I’ll think after eating something.’

Though he could cook edible meals, letting Medea eat it might be a bit cruel. He decided to buy something from the restaurant before Sakura arrived and insisted on cooking.

He knocked on his room’s door. “Caster, I'm going out. Can you look after the house?”

"Master, wait. I’m coming," she said and snappily slid the door.

“You don’t need to.”

“You are not going without me. Your magical energy is hardly concealed. It will give your position to other Masters. I can hide it and protect you.”

She remained firm, unwilling to back out.

“Alright,” he consented. She will certainly help if the ghost strikes again.

She suddenly vanished. Haruki could still sense her presence around him.

“Master, this is my spiritual form. The magic consumption is reduced but my senses are fairly limited.”

“Just come in your physical form. I mean, it would be better to experience this new century through your eyes. I have plenty of magical energy to spare.”

“Master, I can’t.”

This stubborn woman was probably having thoughts like ‘I don't want to trouble him’ or ‘He can't be serious about bringing me with him.’ Haruki was fairly assured of this.

Haruki rubbed the back of his neck. “Sheesh. What are you hesitating for? It's not like someone will identify you after you cover your ears.”

“...”

He let out a sigh at her silence. It felt awkward to be the only one talking in a conversation. But he had to persist and earn her trust. They will both die if none of them trusted each other in this war.

‘Arch, am I doing this wrong?’

[Answer: No… it’s vital to trust your allies in a war.]

This goddess was so kind.

“...Master, my clothes aren’t suited for this city.”

The minor achievement of persuading the stubborn woman brought a smile to his face.

“You can try my mother's clothes.”

Medea was slim and petite compared to his mother. A cold wind touched the back of his neck, a shiver running down his spine.

“Master?”

“Follow me.”

He headed to his mother’s room. The pale pink walls with white furniture made the room elegant and girly at the same time. He opened the cupboard and shuffled through the dresses.

Medea materialized beside him and curiously looked at the clothes. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed, and she stretched her finger. "Master, does that chest belong to you?"

He followed her finger to a wooden chest lying on the shelf. It also had a giant keyhole like those classic treasure chests.

Medea grabbed the box with both arms. “It has an enchantment on it.”

“Enchantment? ...Mom was a Magus?" He shook his head. "That’s impossible.”

Medea flipped the chest and stared at the small square cutout with delicate text, her blue eyes shimmering with mild amusement. “It is an intricate blood identification-type spell. I can crack it through brute force. Master?”

“Is there no other option?”

“Try dripping your blood on this area. It should unlock if she left it as your inheritance.”

He needed to confirm the new theory shoved in his face. Taking a needle from his mother’s sewing set in the drawer, he pricked his finger. He touched the designated area and waited.

Click! The chest's lid loosened. Haruki opened the chest. The contents were enough to make a grown man like him blush.

‘Why is she collecting my sleeping photos?’

Medea picked the photos and shuffled through them. He even found a recent one where he was sleeping entirely naked in his room.

‘What the hell, Mom!’

Medea silently put the photos aside as if being considerate of his dignity. He picked up the white envelope left in the chest and tore the seal. He pulled the letter from inside and read it.

{Haru dear. If you're reading this letter, that means I have died or gone missing...

I wanted to say this line from my twenties!

Sorry for getting distracted.}

‘Haru… that's the nickname she chose for me. Can’t believe my airhead mom wrote this letter.’

Shaking his head, he continued reading.

{Drop some of your blood inside the chest… Even after I swear to protect Haru, I'm asking him to spill blood. I'm the worst kind of mother.}

“That's not true,” he muttered, despite knowing she wasn't here.

He pricked the same wound on his finger and dripped the blood in the chest. Shiiing! The wooden base split, revealing an earth-like orb. On closer inspection, the drawing on it seemed to be a perfect imitation of a globe. Such attention to detail made it an exotic item.

“Caster, is this a magic artifact?”

“I don't feel any magical energy from this.”

Haruki returned to the letter for any clues.

{You see that little earth. That could be the reason... I died.}

His mind blanked out.