Chapter 3

-Gudako POV

After eating I brought my plate to the kitchen to wash it but was stopped by the innkeepers, they told me I have done enough and should get some rest instead. Though I wanted to refute them saying I'm still fine, the look of insistence in their eyes made me do otherwise and instead accepted their offer. After accepting their offer I made my way to the stairs, and when I was climbing the stairs I saw Naofumi facing me with a resigned face and letting out a sigh, to him I flashed a smile to inspire him to endure, not knowing I added more burden to his 'training' by adding more murder intent he has to withstand. After arriving to the second floor I head to my room to rest but not before satiating the hunger of my servants especially the Saberfaces, I've started cooking physically and mentally (using the ingredients I stored) and I'm still cooking for them right now, but some of the servants are instead cooking for me (example: Tamamo, Tamamo Cat, Nero, Benienma, Suzuka Gozen), and some are cooking alongside me (example: Kiyohime). While laying down on my bed I wonder what to do with the 'shadows' that followed me and Naofumi from the moment we exited the castle, should I follow what Nobunaga said and just massacre them all? Or should I follow what Tamamo and Suzuka said and get rid of them before they get in my way of life? Or should I torture them for information and anything valuable as Elizabeth, Wu Ze Tian, Tamamo Vitchi said? Or just ignore them?

So many choices but I can only choose one, but for now I'll take a wait and see attitude. Most likely the 'shadows' are from someone very influential, because of their quality even I had some troubles finding them. But thanks to Hundred Face Hassan, I could spot them easily. Guess having specialized in the art of infiltration made her easy to spot the 'shadow'. And why exactly did I call them shadow you ask? Well probably because of their transition between disguises, it looked like Yan Qing transforming between disguises and since they've been tailing me like a shadow then why not call them that?

Besides that I guess they're a bit lucky because they decided not to spy the room I rented. Because if they did?..... Well let's just say it won't end good for any of us, because you don't want to imagine what would happen when your being spied all the time and your obsessive, also powerful girlfriends (just as a reference) know about it.

Anyway after attending to the special matters inside me such as the lucha libre (pro wrestling) tournament going on inside me turns out the prize for this tournament is a night alone with me, if it's just that it wouldn't be as hectic as now because even Ganesha/Jinako and Osakabenihime the ones who hate to EVEN LEAVE THEIR OWN ROOMS are participating. Turns out the reason it's so hectic is because Gorgon whispering to herself about using the one night to drag me into her nest and sealing me inside it with her to make me truly becomes hers alone, but somehow the news spread and all the Servants are participating.

Which leaves me to do the administration part, because despite being the one who sparked the idea of sparring Scàthach is just itching to join and it just won't do for me to have her sit on the sidelines... more importantly she would most likely channel her frustration on me. And about Quetzacoatl? she gave the idea lucha libre so that she could participate in it, why would she bother being the organizer if there is a more suitable person(A.K.A. me) who everyone would listen and is neutral... most of the time. Oh and I'm the judge too, Martha did suggest that she would be the judge, but when she heard about the prize she wavered but the last straw was hearing Gorgon's idea which made her say things about protecting me from the impure thoughts of the others... while having blood continuously dripping from her nose, on a side note Jeanne also had the exact same reaction when she answered my question to why she registered. Which reminds me, Mash also joined for the same reason but having a resolute face of doing anything to win.

Which made me worry about the fairness, but the most I could do is putting 2 rules which is : no using any weapon and no killing each other. Which made my job of keeping them alive more easier... or so I thought. Turns out Medea used a loophole and is using items(equipments, potions, and so on) to increase her stats, but using her magic is one thing I permitted because if a Caster servant went up against the other Classes without their magic normally the odds are already zero for the Caster, but with their magic useable it should even the odds... it should unless the Caster is like Anderson or Shakespeare.

The other Servants are following her example, like for example: using their magical eyes (Medusa, Gorgon, Suzuka Gozen), making the arena their realm (making the arena part of the Underworld for Ereshkiegal), even food poisoning... although it's more like because the lack of skills (Elizabeth cooking on her turn using blood and dragon materials and even an Evil God's Heart) which made me see the pathway to the afterlife (Heaven and Hell, and yes I saw both of them) that also made me take the role of chef until the tournament is over or unless a certified cook is free.

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But I didn't know Elizabeth could poison Heroic Spirits with her dish... a strong point indeed for her ("Hey, I'm not happy about it"[Elizabeth]). I thought I heard Elizabeth's retort but let's ignore it for now("Don't ignore me! I mean it's normal right, idols don't normally cook anything but#&*#&"[Elizabeth] LOST CONNECTION PLEASE TRY AGAIN), right after that's done let's reorganize the matches. Now then should I match Gilgamesh(Kid) against Astolfo, because it would be somewhat fair considering that Gil gets most of his strength from his treasury, and although Astolfo is weak ("It's true but still, IT HURTS!"[Astolfo])... he is still a part of Charlemagne's 12 Knights.

While idling on those thoughts the moonlight coming from the window reminded me of the time, which made me go to sleep after cleaning myself. Hopefully tomorrow the tournament would be less hectic than today... hopefully.

-The Next Day (Naofumi POV)

Waking up, I sit on my bed seeing sunlight coming from the window and the chirping of the birds as I remembered what happened yesterday...

-Flashback yesterday

While watching the top announcement after eating Gudako's food I incredulously opened my mouth so big I could fit an egg in it... good thing there were no flies I guess. As I turn my attention to the other announcements which is 'By satisfying the conditions you have unlocked a new shield' reading that my breath and heartbeat hastened as I look the new shields that I obtained just by eating food.

'Shields unlocked: Gourmet Shield I, II, III'

'-Effects: I= Increase in food quality(small), II= Increase in food efficiency(small), III= Increase in food quality(medium)'

...Well what can I say? Disappointing I guess, but it does make sense because it came from eating food. I mean I did hoped to get a high tier but it was an imaginary thought. With that thought I let out a tired sigh, but I immediately see Gudako going up the stairs, she also see me flashing a smile as if to say 'Don't Give Up!'. Seing the smile I immediately felt refreshed and filled with motivation, in order to furfill her trust in me. But the next moment after Gudako is no longer in sight I felt very heavy and almost dropped to the floor, if it weren't for experiencing Gudako's fighting spirit and beatdown beforehand I would've fainted.

Feeling the oppressive atmosphere, I turned around with what I would guess a stiff smile. And my fears turned true, because I saw the thick clouds of malevolence hanging over everyone in the inn. Seeing that I'm facing them a man as tall as an average adult with blond hair and golden eyes and a lean face to go with it, with a threatening look on his face he moved in front of me while all the others kept glaring. When the man arrived in front of me he stared at me for a while before saying "Who are you to have our goddess not only invite to eat with but also carry piggyback across town?"[Adventurer?]

Hearing the sentence I blanked, but it also made sense. Because my equipment is only a chainmail and a buckler-like shield, so it wouldn't make sense if they were aiming to steal from me. And also I spotted some of the audience nodding to agree with his question, but before I could say anything he erupted by smashing his fist repeatedly on my table to make a loud noise yet not harming the table as he yelled "Damn it!(BAM!) Who are you really to be cared by a goddess like that?(BAM!) I'm really envious I could die!(BAM!) Why did it have to be this bastard who's being cared by her!(BAM!) Why it couldn't be me?(Hu Hu Hu)"[Adventurer?] When he said the final sentence he broke down in tears, having one arm on the table to lean on and the other on his face to cover his face and block his tears. I saw the audience behind him and their reactions are similar to him, some did the exact thing as him (except for the yelling and table banging), some are gritting their teeth and tightening their fist while letting out tears of blood.

Dumbfounded by the events happening, I froze momentarily before thinking what to do. After a few seconds I made my mind and stood up from my seat, moving next to the adventurer.