Chapter 36 - Chapter 33: The Gremory Family

I got 2 Medusa Saber in fgo! Hours of grinding and sleepless nights were all worth it just to get her T-T

Beta read by Shigiya, Paragon of Awesomeness and Gamercrusher55

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-Underworld-

Archer had always envisioned the Underworld as a hellish wasteland, a scorched landscape chock full of brimstone and eternal suffering, shaped by the tales he had heard in his past life. A place that would make the Fuyuki fire look like a simple bonfire by comparison. Even in death, what greeted him was neither Heaven nor Hell, but something far more isolating. 

Bound by his contract with the world, he was trapped in an endless, barren plain atop a hill of swords, a prison where he was forced to slaughter without end, as killing people across timelines for all eternity was apparently the most effective way to protect the species. That, in his mind, was the closest thing to a true Hell.

Yet, as he set foot in this world's Underworld, he was met with something completely different.

The Underworld, as it turned out, was not the fiery abyss he had imagined. Instead, it was a realm that thrived under its own strange rules. Hell existed, but it was a separate domain governed by different pantheons, each with its own version of the afterlife. Here, the Underworld was ruled by Devils and Fallen Angels — though the latter controlled far less territory than their Devil counterparts. Regardless, the sheer size of the Underworld was staggering — rumored to be as vast as Earth, with some claiming it was even larger.

As he gazed out the window of the car taking him to the Gremory estate, his usual shroud and armor replaced with black pants and a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up his forearms, Archer half-expected to see an oppressive red sky, rivers of magma, and the ever-present glow of distant infernos. Instead, he found himself beneath a twilight sky, bathed in the glow of a massive, radiant moon.

"That is not the real moon," Grayfia's voice cut through his thoughts as she sat inside the car beside him. Koneko, Gasper, and Rias were also present, but his Master had yet to wake, and the other two had similarly fallen asleep while the rest of the peerage was in a separate vehicle. "Think of it as a massive illusion spell, created long ago to help reincarnated Devils adjust. A construct woven from mana, you could say."

"So it's artificial…" Archer mused, his gaze lingering on the celestial body above. "For a place called the Underworld, it certainly resembles something more akin to a fantasy world."

More surprising than the sky was the air itself — almost obscenely thick with mana, far denser than anything he had encountered in any version of the human world he'd ever been to. It was a stark reminder that this world had never truly left its Age of Gods. If an untrained Magus were to suddenly appear here, the sheer concentration of energy could easily overwhelm them, possibly even kill them before they had a chance to adjust.

Of course, as a Servant, this was not a problem for him. But had he arrived here in his past life, as a mere human, survival would have been a far different struggle.

"If this is the Underworld," he mused, "It should be obvious that Heaven also exists, given the existence of Angels and their factions… Should I assume it's the same case over there? Modified to make the transition easier for humans, I mean."

"That is a difficult question to answer," Grayfia shook her head. "Unfortunately, I myself cannot say, as I have never seen it with my own eyes. However, from what I have heard, the thirteen levels of Heaven are said to be a world of infinite light — pure and boundless. A perfect paradise for Angels and the departed souls who find peace there. It is said to have no imperfections of any kind. You may interpret that statement however you wish."

That description was about as vague as he expected, but it was the best that he was going to get from a Devil.

Looking around, Archer found himself impressed with the world before him. The landscape was filled with lush greenery, rolling hills, and vibrant forests stretching into the horizon. Rivers carved through the terrain, their waters crystal clear, reflecting the glowing moon above. Had he not known better, he might have mistaken this place for some untouched region of Earth rather than the Underworld.

Grayfia continued, gesturing toward the distance. "Right now, we are in Lucifaad. As the name implies, it is the territory of the Devil who bears the Lucifer title. The mansion of House Gremory you all will be staying at lies further north, overseeing an area roughly the size of Japan."

"Why am I not surprised?" he muttered dryly.

As their transport carried them closer to their destination, he noticed something unexpected. The streets were lined with people, some holding banners with bold letters that read 'Welcome Back!' A few children even held small figurines — ones that bore an uncanny resemblance to Rias herself.

He raised an eyebrow.

"I hadn't expected my Master to be this popular."

"Lady Rias is beloved by the people," Grayfia stated, her voice carrying a clear sense of pride. "She and her family have always ensured that not only their servants but also the people living within their territory have the best lives possible. And with her recent victory in her very first Rating Game over Lord Riser, her popularity among children and teenagers has skyrocketed. Many of them are reincarnated Devils who suffered in the human world before starting their lives anew here, now with families of their own and true freedom."

The more Archer listened, the more he felt the urge to chuckle.

"What an interesting way to look at the Underworld," he mused. "True freedom… sure, they just needed to trade away their humanity and control over their own lives first. A bit ironic wouldn't you say?"

"It was not something achieved overnight," she admitted. "There was much to rebuild after the civil war that culminated in the Old Satan Faction being overthrown. It allowed Sirzechs, Serafall, Ajuka, and Falbium to take power. The old ways would never have allowed anything like this. The Devils of that era were stuck in their traditions, uncaring if not reveling in their cruelty. If left unchecked, they would have driven themselves to extinction through endless war."

"But then Ajuka came up with the Evil Piece system, and suddenly most of your population problems were solved," Archer remarked, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Grayfia acknowledged his words with a small nod. "That is part of it."

Speaking of Ajuka, the Satan initially came all the way to the station to welcome them and ask for his aid — that much was clear. Yet for him to now be gone after getting some news made him wonder if it was related to his brother… or something else. Regardless, they were going to discuss these details soon with him and Sirzechs.

A few minutes later, their car arrived at its destination. Stepping out, Archer tilted his head up to take in the grand estate before him.

"A bit extravagant, don't you think?" he said dryly as he carefully brought Rias out of the car and into his arms, while two members of the household staff stepped in and carried Koneko and Gasper over to where the rest of the group was arriving.

The architecture was reminiscent of the Renaissance period, bearing similarities to the Palace of Versailles — extravagantly ornate, luxurious, and imposing.

"This is one of House Gremory's smaller estates," Grayfia informed him. "The family moved here to be closer to Lucifaad."

Archer raised an eyebrow at that. If this was considered "small," he had clearly underestimated the wealth of the Gremory family. And their willingness to flaunt it.

"Follow me," Grayfia instructed.

As they walked through the halls, he saw the opulence of the interior matched the grandeur of the exterior. Every corridor was immaculately maintained, with gilded decor and polished marble floors. Rows of maids and butlers greeted him with a waiting bow at every turn, their presence a clear testament to the household's prestige.

After a short walk, Grayfia led him to a particular room. The moment the door opened, Archer immediately understood who it belonged to.

"Well, would you look at that?" he muttered, stepping inside. "She was quite the collector even before coming to the human world."

The room was filled with all manner of Japanese memorabilia — posters, paintings, stickers, and even anime figurines and plushies neatly displayed across shelves, along with the manga and anime themselves of course. With a small shake of his head, he carefully laid Rias down on the bed. The girl groaned softly, shifting in her sleep as if caught in the grip of a persistent nightmare.

"Is Lady Rias ill?" one of the maids inquired from the door.

Archer shook his head. "No, just experiencing the side effects of the Dream Cycle."

He could already predict the confused expression that would follow, and sure enough, the maid tilted her head slightly, waiting for further explanation. Turning his head to see clear interest in Grayfia's eyes as well despite her immaculate posture, he sighed and elaborated.

"By that, I mean when a Master forms a contract with a Servant, the bond extends beyond merely supplying energy to maintain my existence; our very souls are connected. There are times when visions — or more accurately, memories — bleed through, causing the Master to see glimpses of their Servant's life."

Grayfia's eyes narrowed with intrigue, but she remained silent, absorbing the information.

"I don't know if she ever mentioned anything to you or Sirzechs about me," Archer went on, "but I can assure you, my life was not one for the faint of heart to even witness. It seems that during this particular Dream Cycle, she saw something that truly shook her."

As he spoke, he gently ran a hand through Rias' crimson hair, offering a small gesture of comfort. Her breathing steadied slightly at his touch, though traces of distress lingered on her face. A slight pang of guilt settled in Archer's chest. There was nothing he could do to prevent these visions or control what she saw, but this had still happened because of him. Perhaps if he had chosen his words more carefully when speaking about his past, she wouldn't be so distressed about this.

"Will she recover soon?" inquired Grayfia

"Don't worry. It's nothing serious," Archer reassured. "She's just mentally exhausted. A good rest will help more than anything."

Hopefully, the next Dream Cycle won't come too soon. If she had already reached this point in his memories, what followed would only get worse.

"May I ask what she saw?" Grayfia inquired carefully.

"My death," Archer answered bluntly.

Her expression barely concealed her surprise. "Forgive me. I did not intend to bring up such a sensitive topic."

Her voice held a hint of regret, something that even Archer found he had not expected. Even so, he quickly waved off her concern with a dismissive gesture.

"Don't think too much about it. It already happened, and I've long since moved on," he replied, letting out an amused huff after several. I suppose it must sound strange to you Devils, hearing someone talk about their own death so casually."

"It does," Grayfia admitted. "Your case, as I understand it, is very different from a reincarnated Devil's. A great many of them did die shortly before they were turned, but you…"

"I'm still dead," Archer finished for her. "I'm nothing more than a spirit temporarily given physical form. Is that what you were trying to say?"

She nodded. "I am sorry if my response sounds insensitive."

He merely shrugged. She wasn't wrong, after all. But for now, his priority was Rias and her well-being.

"What are you doing?" Grayfia questioned, her words suddenly taking on a much sharper tone as Archer Projected a small basin, filled it with warm water from the attached bathroom, and soaked a cloth in it before wringing it out. He placed the damp cloth on Rias' forehead while using another to gently wipe away the lingering sweat on her face and neck.

"Isn't it obvious?" Archer replied, glancing at her with a raised brow. "I'm taking care of my Master."

Before he could continue, the cloth was abruptly snatched from his hand. Grayfia positioned herself between him and Rias, her expression stern.

"You are a guest of the House of Gremory. There is no need for you to perform such tasks, Lord Archer. Leave them all to me."

Without hesitation, Archer Projected another cloth and held his ground.

"My Master is not in a stable mental state. If she wakes up in a state of panic or distress, it's better if I'm the first person she sees. Since I'm supposed to stay by her side anyway, I might as well do something useful. Besides, I'm sure you have other responsibilities you can attend to in this estate."

"I refuse," Grayfia stated firmly. "On my honor as the head maid of House Gremory, I insist that you leave these tasks to me. You may be Lady Rias' Servant, but you are also a guest in this house, and you still have yet to meet with Lord and Lady Gremory, who are both waiting for you downstairs with the rest of Lady Rias' peerage. You should go ahead and allow them to welcome you into their home as is proper."

She reached for the cloth in his hands again, but Archer maintained his grip on it. Neither backed down, and he was curious to see how far she would go in this. 

"As her Servant, it is my duty to stay by her side and make sure my Master is safe. Besides, I know you must be very busy as the head maid." He pulled back with more strength, surprising the maid as her arm stretched towards him. "Besides, I know she would prefer for it to be me in the first place." 

Her eyes narrowed. "I advise you to be careful with your words, Lord Archer."

He was amused by her reaction, a faint smirk appearing on his face. The very atmosphere of the room seemed to shift, a steady presence of demonic energy permeating the air as Grayfia faced him, the very same kind of power he felt during their first confrontation, though not as dense for obvious reasons."

"It's not like I said anything false. Last I checked, she much prefers the tea I make over yours. And I'm sure she'll be hungry when she wakes up, so you'll have to excuse me in advance for commandeering the kitchen."

If looks could kill, he would have been dead several times over in that instant from the glare she was giving him. It was clear that he had struck a nerve, reminding her of a past event that had undoubtedly wounded her pride — one she had neither forgotten nor moved on from.

"That was quite a while ago, Lord Archer. I will have you know that I have since perfected my craft, and Lady Rias will be most satisfied with everything that I prepare for her."

The cloth they were both holding began to stretch, strained by the sheer force they were exerting on it. Even with ample Reinforcement, the fabric struggled to maintain its shape.

"Is that so? Honestly, I can't help but be a skeptic. Akeno said something similar in the past—"

"I am not Akeno."

Rather than continuing to tug at the cloth, Grayfia abruptly let go and seized his wrist, pulling him closer while also stepping forward herself. Her sharp silver eyes bore into his with a warning.

"And you would be very wise to take back what you just said."

"And if I don't?"

"Then I'll ju—"

Their conversation was cut short by the sound of Rias's groaning. The redhead stirred on the bed, shifting with an annoyed expression as she slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze first landed on Grayfia in confusion before snapping to Archer, narrowing as she noticed the extremely close proximity between the two. More specifically, how the maid still had a firm grip on his wrist. Grayfia's large chest was even pressed firmly against his own, their faces inches apart.

"…What is going on here?" she asked, suspicion creeping into her tone.

Archer found her reaction amusing, the girl had a tendency to become jealous rather easily from what he'd observed from how she reacted to his interactions with other women. He casually pulled his hand back, crossing his arms with a calm face showing not a hint of anything about the current atmosphere being odd.

"Oh, nothing much. We were just having a friendly disagreement about which of us should be taking care of you, Master. Wouldn't you agree, Grayfia?"

"Indeed," Grayfia said, her tone swiftly returning to her usual composed self. She folded her hands neatly in front of her, standing prim and proper as if the last few seconds had never happened. "I am relieved that you are awake, Lady Rias. When you are feeling better, please come downstairs to meet your parents, they are eagerly awaiting your arrival. Dinner will also soon be ready."

With that, she turned and left the room, though not before casting Archer a sideways glance — one that was less of a farewell and more of a warning.

Silence settled over the room once more. Archer used the moment to gauge Rias' state, already suspecting what was on her mind.

"Are you feeling better now?"

The redhead sighed and massaged her temples, taking a few moments to collect herself before answering his question.

"I am… Sorry about earlier, I just— I couldn't— It's just…"

She struggled to find the right words, and he didn't fault her for it. He had anticipated this reaction. His past was not for the faint of heart, and he had long known what would happen once she saw that part of it.

To ease her, he placed a hand on her shoulder and gently patted her back with the other hand as he had done so many times in the past. He'd found that she was rather fond of such gestures, and this time was no different as the girl leaned into his touch. 

"It's just… how can you be so… casual about it?" she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "You did so much for them… You saved so many people, countless times. They called you a hero. They called you their savior after you not only saved their lives, but also their loved ones and home. And yet, in the end… they betrayed you. Cheered even, as they watched you hang."

"I know it must be difficult to understand, but I truly don't blame them. I don't remember much, but I know it was a difficult time. Countless people lost their loved ones and suffered immense tragedies during those wars, and it was beyond my ability to prevent all suffering, even as I kept on fighting. They needed a scapegoat — someone to blame. Unfortunately, that someone ended up being me," he gently explained.

"Or perhaps, in their eyes, I was just a fool that they couldn't make sense of. A man running around, saving complete strangers over and over without asking anything in return — risking his life time and time again. That would obviously raise some eyebrows."

"I still don't like it," Rias muttered, hugging her knees.

He sat beside her, and she instinctively leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Is that… really what it means to be a hero?" 

He gave her question some thought, humming softly before shaking his head. He felt like he had heard this question before. Back then he probably dismissed the question with a simple answer, but given everything she had just seen… he figured it would be better to give her a better response.

"Everyone has a different path and a different answer to that question. There are countless Heroic Spirits in the Throne, all with unique experiences and choices. Some became heroes through noble deeds, others through bloodshed. In my case, it's more of the second one where I walked a long road, made many mistakes, and only became a nameless hero after years of killing—"

"—You're wrong." Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. "You were a hero from the very beginning in my eyes. The moment you chose to save others despite the risks to yourself — that already made you a hero. I don't care what anyone else says. As your Master, I acknowledge you as a true hero."

Such a simple response. In the past, he would have scoffed and brushed it off with a smirk or a cynical remark. But this time, he didn't. Instead, he accepted her words with a warm smile.

"Well, if my Master says so, then who am I to argue? I may not be the strongest hero or the most noble, but hopefully, you can put up with me until this Holy Grail War or whatever it is that brought us Servants here is over."

Rias shook her head.

"No. You are going to stay right by my side until death do us part," she said with a loud huff. He raised an eyebrow, letting out a small chuckle.

"Heh, be careful with your words there. That almost sounds like a marriage proposal. You can't exactly marry a dead guy — you've got an image to uphold as the heiress of the House of Gremory. Your parents might have a heart attack if they heard you say such a thing."

He expected her to laugh along with him, but to his surprise, she straightened up, huffed audibly, and whispered under her breath. "Would that really be such a bad thing? You're my precious Servant, and we have a lifelong contract that connects our souls… That's practically already the same thing…" 

Taken aback by her words, he couldn't help but be impressed by how his Master chose to interpret their connection. "That's the first time I have ever heard someone compare a contract between Master and Servant in such a way. Let alone my world, I doubt even people here would see it as anything other than absurd, much less than an aristocratic society like Devils would accept it."

"Then I'll just have to become powerful enough that it won't matter — so influential that even a clan like the Bael wouldn't dare object to my decisions. I'll make sure that the entire Underworld respects my choices because they will respect me and those who stand with me. I will do all of this, Archer, and you're going to help me do it."

Her conviction was undeniable. He wasn't sure how to take it. If this gave her the drive to push forward, then he wouldn't oppose it.

"Oh my, what a crazy Master I have — setting herself up for such a difficult future. But lucky for you, that's why I'm here. To aid you in your endeavors, however absurd."

Rias smiled at his words… then shifted her weight on the bed and leaned more against him — raising her head up until her lips touched his.

It started soft but quickly deepened, lasting several seconds before she finally pulled away. Her face was flushed, and her breathing was slightly uneven. She cupped his cheek and gave him a warm smile, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions that Archer hadn't seen in a long time.

"Let's go downstairs. The others are waiting for us." 

Without another word, she got up and headed for the door, leaving him momentarily frozen. He exhaled, watching her go, his thoughts lingering on her words and actions alike. She was growing into quite the woman. She would become a great Devil one day. But… was she taking on more than she could handle? 

"Oh well," he murmured to himself, allowing his form to fade into spirit mode out of habit. 

"Hey! Don't you dare turn into spirit form! You're meeting my parents, so don't even think about trying to escape from this!" Rias's voice called out sharply from the other side of the room. He sighed, shaking his head as he rematerialized. He really hadn't been trying to run away. 

As they walked, the red-headed Devil spoke up, curiosity evident in her tone.

"Archer, now that I think about it. You were in my room when I woke up. Then, have you already met my parents? Were they concerned over what happened to me?"

"Unfortunately… or fortunately, no," he replied. "I followed Grayfia up to your room from another entrance, and that's about it. I already gave her the basic information about the Dream Cycle and why you were in such a state."

"You did?" 

He blinked. "Should I have not done that?" It was not like he gave the woman any real insight into his past. Given his nature as a Heroic Spirit, it was only natural that he had died to become what he was now, and Rias just happened to reach that stage in the Dream Cycle. 

"N-No… it's not that, I just thought that you would have kept that as a secret from her… Speaking of Grayfia," she said, her tone shifting into something more suspicious, "what exactly is going on between you two?"

He glanced at her, noting the sharpness in her voice.

"Please clarify, Master."

"Why was she holding you like that when I woke up? Why were you so close to each other?" she demanded, and she looked like she was ready to fire off a barrage of questions just shy of accusations.

"Now what's this I see here? Is my dear Master afraid that her Servant is talking to another woman?" he teased.

Rias didn't even hesitate — she gave a clear nod. "Of course I am! And this isn't just any woman we're talking about — this is my sister-in-law, Grayfia! She's known throughout the Underworld as the 'Silver Queen of Annihilation,' and easily one of the most beautiful women in the Underworld. So what exactly is going on between you two? Whatever it is can't be worth it!"

"Nothing but some friendly competition," he answered simply. "She is very prideful in her identity as a maid despite being married to Lucifer himself, and would not let me perform my duty. I just wanted to see if there was any weight behind her words with a bit of banter."

"If that glare she gave you is what you call 'friendly,' then I'd rather not know more about it," she muttered, still not sounding completely convinced. "I already have to watch out for Akeno, who has been acting weird lately, and even Rider. The last thing I want to deal with is having to keep Grayfia of all people away from you."

Oh right, Akeno had also been pretty awkward around him after what happened at the beach, so much so that even Asia had started to notice. Their conversation when they boarded the train had restored her confidence, but that came with its own problems… even if they could be exciting at times. 

Saji hadn't mentioned anything to anyone so far as he or Rider could tell, so at best he had to deal with a bit of suspicion from the others. 

But there was one thing he wanted to remind his Master, "Your worries are unfounded, Master—" 

Right as he was in the middle of his response, an excited young voice came from the end of the hallway followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. 

"Big Sister Rias!"

"Millicas!"

He turned to see a young boy with short red hair rushing toward them, his face lighting up the moment he saw Rias. Dressed in formal attire which appeared to be some kind of long crimson suit jacket, shorts, and gray eyes similar to Grayfia. 

"Welcome home! I'm so glad to see you!" he said eagerly. "How was the human world? Was it fun?"

Just like Rias had been doing moments prior, Millicas fired off a series of rapid questions the moment he finished greeting her. 

"The human world was amazing," she answered with a smile. "I learned so much and experienced so many different things. And just as I promised — if you get good grades on your next exams and perform exceptionally, I'll convince Mom to let you visit and we can have some fun there too."

"Yay! You're the best, Big Sis!" the boy beamed, dashing forward to hug her with pure joy on his face. Rias returned the gesture warmly before turning to Archer, her expression full of pride.

"Archer, this is my nephew, Millicas. He's my brother's and Grayfia's son, and also—"

Before she could finish, Millicas interrupted with an excited voice.

"Wow, so cool! You're Archer!" His eyes sparkled as he stepped forward, bowing respectfully while barely containing his excitement. "I saw your fight on TV a while ago during the Rating Game between the Gremory and Phenex households! It was amazing seeing Big Sis Rias take down Riser and his entire peerage so easily without losing anyone! I was told it was all thanks to you!"

Despite his excitement, the boy remained polite and articulate. Archer smiled at his enthusiasm, finding the kid to be cute, and different from what he imagined a child raised in such extravagance to be like.

"You could say that," he admitted with a casual shrug. "It was not anything major like you are thinking, I just made sure they could pull their own weight. Anyone else in my place could have achieved the same result."

"Pft," a scoff came from his Master, the latter openly rolling her eyes at what he said. 

"I still think it was amazing! I can't wait to have my own peerage one day and be part of intense Rating Games like that one!" Millicas said eagerly before scratching his face awkwardly. "I still need to wait until I am old enough to get my own Evil Pieces. But it should be soon!" 

Archer's expression remained neutral, though he wasn't sure how he felt about that sentiment. While Millicas had clearly no ill intent, the idea of assembling a peerage through the Evil Pieces system just to participate in a Rating Game felt too much like he would be treating people's lives like literal pieces on a board. It was a system that could easily be abused, and in all likelihood, already was by those in power. But this boy was too young to understand such concepts, so there was no point in telling him.

Instead, Archer knelt down to meet him at eye level.

"First, focus on yourself," he advised. "If you want to do something like that, then it's crucial you don't fall behind — especially if you're to be the peerage's King. You saw how Riser lost, right? Had he been more active or put himself more in the frontline to support his peerage, then perhaps things could have gone differently. Understand?"

Millicas didn't hesitate for even a second.

"Of course! I'll make sure to become really strong! Strong enough to fire attacks like yours with a bow and sword! Wait, was that even a sword? It looked weird — so different from anything I've seen before! What was it? Can I learn to do something like that too?"

Archer had to suppress a chuckle. The boy was trying to be respectful, but his own excitement was making it difficult. Still, he decided to entertain the little kid for now.

"You want to fire arrows like that?" he mused, with a loud hum. "You'll have to ask your aunt and probably also your parents or grandparents for permission before I can train you. It is not for the faint of heart and my Master can attest to that, having experienced it first hand."

At that, Rias suddenly paled.

In a near panic, she scrambled forward, getting in between him and the boy before grabbing the latter by the shoulders and crouching down to look him directly in the eyes.

"Millicas, it's good that you're interested in such things," she said quickly, "but you should focus more on your studies with Mom and Grayfia. After that, maybe I'll allow you to train — but only if it's for your own good. Studying is far more important at your age!"

"Eh?" the boy blinked in confusion, clearly a little disappointed, but he'd clearly had manners drilled into him as he didn't protest. "If you say so," he relented. "I'll try my best, but Grandma's homework never stops…"

"You'll manage," Rias assured him with a pat on the back, giggling at the pout. "Now go on ahead, we'll be there in a bit. I need to talk with Archer alone for a minute."

She gently pushed him forward, keeping her expression neutral until he was out of sight. The moment he was gone, Archer smirked. "Afraid I'd put the boy through the same kind of training I gave all of you? How hurtful. I'm not some kind of demon, Master. I'd go easy on the boy and make sure he comes out to be a perfectly capable combatant — he might even have a hidden talent in archery for all we know."

"Hush, you!" she huffed while shooting a cute glare at him. "I won't fall for your tricks this time! I don't want my adorable little nephew to turn into a jaded, battle-hardened veteran with a bad sense of humor! He's supposed to stay cute and cuddly for at least another twenty years before he even thinks about something like that! Issei still has nightmares from the training from what I heard!"

"Twenty years? Really?" 

"I stand by what I said." 

"If you say so," Archer said with a chuckle, not pressing the matter further.

Truthfully, he had no intention of training the boy. Even if Millicas had begged and bribed, he was certain the Gremory family had an abundance of qualified trainers. Though hopefully, the kid would actually make use of them, unlike Rias who'd clearly spent most of her time goofing off until he came along. 

He was by no means the best person for that kind of job, his previous results with Rias' peerage only came from exposing them to constant danger — not exactly an ideal training method in the long run, especially for such a young and innocent mind. There were undoubtedly hundreds of others in the Gremory household who could do a far better job, given enough time.

"Alright," Rias said, suddenly adopting a more serious tone. "Before we go meet my mother and father, you need to know something. My father can be a bit… eccentric, and my mother loves poking fun. Just… don't take anything they say too seriously, okay?"

He raised an eyebrow, wondering if there was some history between them. Then again, considering how her arranged marriage had been handled, it wasn't too hard to imagine why she might have concerns.

"Understood," he said simply, following her lead until they arrived at the main room. As soon as he stepped inside, his eyes immediately scanned the space, taking note of Grayfia, who stood behind two individuals he was able to identify at a glance — Rias' parents.

"Finally, you're home! I'm glad to see you're safe and in good health, dear!"

The deep voice belonged to a man of impressive stature, standing about the same height as Archer. He wore an impeccably tailored white suit that contrasted sharply with his long, flowing red hair that easily reached his shoulders. His short red beard on his chin bore distinctive protrusions, resembling small horns, and there were his striking blue eyes that looked so like Rias'. 

Beside him stood a woman with warm flaxen-brown hair and violet eyes. Her face and body were an almost exact replica of Rias', save for the hair and eye color along with a hint of maturity that set her apart, and the look in her eyes being more gentle. If not for the longevity granted by their Devil biology, which kept Devils looking youthful for centuries, she could have easily been mistaken for Rias' older sister. 

The lady of the house approached her daughter, "We were worried you may have caught a sickness while on your way here, that's why I told Zeoticus we should have postponed this dinner until all the kids got enough rest." 

The man raised his hands, "Come now, Venelana, I had no idea this would happen in the first place. Rias has never fallen sick any of the previous times she traveled here from the human world."

Rias stepped forward and greeted them both with a respectful bow of her head. "You don't have to worry about me, Mother. It was nothing serious at all, I just had a bad dream." From the looks of it, the girl had no intentions of sharing such details with her parents, at least for now. Which in his opinion was a good thing, there was a time and place for that. 

More importantly, He did not miss the way the girl spoke to her parents. While not audibly rude or dismissive, there was some stiffness to her demeanor. He recalled the day of the Rating Game, when even after they won she had been unwilling to meet her parents due to still having some resentment over their decision to move up the date of her wedding with Riser Phenex. 

"And you must be the famous Sir Archer, am I correct?" Venelana then turned her attention to him, either not noticing or dismissing the way her daughter was behaving. Keeping the same smile on her face as she approached him before giving him a smooth curtsy. "I have heard so much about you from both my son and daughter-in-law — they wouldn't stop talking about you. And I can understand why, you certainly left quite an impression on everyone in the Underworld during the Rating Game."

"Truly a marvelous display of power befitting a hero," Zeoticus said, extending his hand which Archer shook calmly. "Now, I do believe this is the first time you have set foot in the Underworld, so it is my honor to welcome you to my humble home, and I hope I can trust you to continue taking care of my daughter." 

"He's already been doing that from the moment I summoned him, you don't need to remind him." Rias cut in. "He's the reason why I'm free from my engagement in the first place." 

The smiles on their faces froze for a brief second, both husband and wife looking at one another. Not wanting things to end up even more awkward in the room, Archer decided to speak up. "There is no need to worry, as the summoned Servant of your daughter, the very purpose of my existence is to keep her safe as long as I am here. And yes, the Underworld is indeed very different from what I had in mind." 

"Hahahaha!" Zeoticus let out a hearty laugh, "I am glad to hear that, you are just as reliable as Sirzechs said you were!" 

"Indeed. A shame he felt the need to have Grayfia fight Archer to verify that, amongst other things." Rias whispered again, something both of them clearly heard but chose to ignore once more. 

"Please, join us for dinner. We have prepared a feast today to welcome everyone! It's been prepared by the finest chefs in our employ." 

Pulling him along to the dining room, he found that the other members of the peerage were already gathered and had most likely been waiting for them. Strangely enough, all of them were still wearing their school uniforms for some reason. Rias arrived, after having obviously had a private conversation with her mother. It had most likely been one concerning her previous comments if he were to guess. 

Zeoticus clapped his hands. "Now that everyone is here, we can eat!" 

.

.

.

"Did something happen?" With everyone settling down to eat their food, Archer went ahead and sat in the seat next to Akeno who asked the question curiously as soon as he joined her. She glanced at her King worriedly as she asked, recent events from the train ride here still fresh on her mind. 

"Everything went smoothly, thankfully enough. We talked, and she's calmer now. She may still need a bit of time to fully get over what she saw, but I believe she's past the worst of it." 

"Is this thing really that bad?" Issei, who was sitting on the other side of the table, asked quietly, having gotten a brief explanation of what happened from Akeno earlier on. "I saw something like this in an anime, what was it… oh right, a bleeding effect? Wait, does that mean we'll also be affected because of our connection with Buchou? Am I going to get awesome powers?"

The Servant of the Bow was surprised that the boy actually got it correctly, even though it was from something completely unrelated. "In order: yes, I doubt it, and no," he replied succinctly. "And frankly, I can't even begin to guess where you got that last idea from." 

"Aw man, even Ddraig was looking forward to seeing those dreams."

That creeped him out a bit. Why would a Heavenly Dragon even be curious about his life in the first place? Most likely to find some form of twisted entertainment if he had to guess.

"So, Archer," from the head of the table, Rias' father called out to him. "I know this might sound sudden, but I can't help but feel curious about this topic. Would it be possible for me to know more about your prior life before you became a… wandering soul, was it? Wait, no it was… Heroic Spirit? Did I get it right?"

"Are you trying to guess his identity?" Rias asked curiously, though visibly not as worried that her father would come anywhere close to the truth compared to Sona. "I already told you that he is not Arash in my letters."

Arash… Now that was a name he had not heard in a while.

"Dear…" Venelana said, shooting her husband a glance.

"Ah, forgive me if I asked something I shouldn't have."

Archer waved the man's worries away, "It's alright. I understand why you may be curious, but honestly, the matter of my identity isn't as exciting as you'd think it is." Immediately he saw everyone around look at him intently. Evidently, they disagreed with him on how fascinating the subject of his identity was. This included Rias, who had not expected him to actually say something on the subject. "But, if I had to sum up my youth, I'd say I merely went to school, lived a mostly quiet chapter of my life, and even had part-time jobs of sorts." 

The last part he recalled from watching Emiya Shirou helping out with minor tasks at some liquor store that also functioned as a cafe. The name of the woman who ran the place escaped him, but he did remember small things, like her love for cigarettes.

"Fascinating. I must admit, I had a very different idea in mind." Zeoticus admitted with a slightly bashful smile. "When I heard about the Throne of Heroes from my son and you being from it, my mind went to remember tales of great heroes who have marked their presence across human history. Their lives are always filled with challenges and countless battles." 

He chuckled, the man was not exactly wrong having such expectations. "Trust me, there is no shortage of those kinds of Heroic Spirits in the Throne. But there are just as many who have had mostly peaceful lives. The criteria to become a Heroic Spirit is only to be forever recorded within the annals of human history after all. There are many ways one can achieve that."

"What job did you have?" Yuuto asked, joining the conversation. 

"I had many, hard to recall now. But the job I did there mostly just involved helping clean and moving boxes. Though I was also allowed to help mix and serve coffee and tea."

"No wonder you're so good at making tea then!" Akeno exclaimed, making the others around him nod their head in agreement. "Fufufu, the image of you working as a barista surprisingly fits quite well~!" 

"Did you work in a church, Saint-sa… uh, Archer?" Asia asked excitedly, a bit of a bold thing to ask within a noble Devil household with the head of the family sitting right there. Though he would have to crush her dreams since he never—oh.

A memory emerged from his mind at the mention of the Church. One he had nearly forgotten, "I never worked for the Church myself, but there were times when I worked with some of their agents. That's actually how I got my shroud; it was a gift from an exorcist I grew close to." 

"Sona would kill to know that last part, you know," Rias added, taken aback by that piece of information. "I'm pretty sure she even once had a theory that the shroud actually is drenched in your own blood, which you acquired after coming back from the dead."

"…I promise you I am not Jesus," he said dryly. 

"Pretty sure she hadn't slept for three full days at the time. So her mind was not really making sense regardless." 

That made him shake his head, resisting the urge to laugh at how ridiculous that sounded. "She's really wasting her time." 

"Hahahaha, I can imagine that being the case with the Sitri heir. But still, even though you mentioned your earlier life to be mostly plain, you clearly must have had plenty of adventure later on if your performances in the Rating Game and even against Grayfia are any indication." 

Archer did not correct him, even giving Rias a look for her to just let it go. Something she reluctantly agreed to and returned her attention to her plate, which she still had not touched. 

"I suppose you can say that, Lord Gremory."

"Oh, please, there is no need to call me that," the head of the Gremory clan said, "Call me Zeoticus instead, or even Zeo if you like. It feels more natural seeing as we're among friends. I love to hear more about you. In return, I will show you around Lucifaad, and even take you to one of my favorite spots where we can relax and talk all we want while enjoying a lovely atmosphere."

"Dear," Venelana raised her voice with a warning tone, "I do hope you're not planning on bringing our dear guest here to that strip club, are you?" 

"S-Strip club!?" Issei repeated with widened eyes. 

"Hah, I'm afraid so," Venelana sighed. "It opened a few months ago, and my husband tells me they have a great many beautiful reincarnated Devils and even a few Fallen Angels performing, quickly making it a popular spot recently." She reached over and pulled on her husband's ear, "Where someone likes to be 'dragged in' by his friends." 

"A-ah-haha, y-you're just imagining things, darling. I merely wish to get to know our guest better, and thought he might appreciate the scenery."

"Yes… scenery that just so happens to involve a bunch of scantily dressed women shaking their asses on a stage and occasionally tossing their clothes to the audience if they tip well enough. Truly, what else could serve as a better background for men as they ponder life?" Venelana spoke in a tone dryer than the Atacama Desert. 

"C-Can… Can I also tag along? Ouch!" Issei managed to gasp out, only to get a painful elbow jab to his ribs by Koneko. 

"Honestly Zeo, this is just like that time you were going to send a dozen maids as a thank-you gift to Sir Archer for his role in allowing our daughter to win the Rating Game, and I had to talk you out of it." 

"A…d-dozen maids!?" Issei exclaimed again, his jealousy barely hidden anymore as he started to cry at the unfairness. Even having Gasper next to him trying to calm the boy down just made things worse. 

"Archer doesn't need any maids," Rias added, "He is perfectly capable of taking care of me and the whole house. In fact, having them present would honestly only hinder him." 

To her words, Venelana stared at her daughter with a knowing look and a soft smile. "You are clearly very fond of Sir Archer, aren't you, Rias?" 

"Of course I am, he is my precious Servant," she responded almost instantly which only made her mother shake her head as her smile widened.

"I see… I wish I'd known of this before. If you'd told me you were into older men, dear daughter, rest assured I'd have had your father arrange a very different engagement for you. But you've clearly managed well for yourself in that regard. Truly, I must compliment you for the man you managed to find all on your own. He certainly is a fine one."

"Mother!" Rias stood up, aghast at what she heard her mother say right at dinner. Her cheeks were flushed red as she turned to Archer, then back to her parents. She clearly wanted to say something but held herself back at the last moment, instead turning on her heels and walking out.

Venelana let out a small sigh, watching her daughter leave the room. "Oh my, I think I went a bit too far with my jokes there." She glanced at the untouched plate in front of where Rias had been seated. "She hasn't even touched her food."

It was clear that tension still hung thick in the air between them. Archer had yet to form a truly negative impression of Rias' parents, though he didn't fully agree with the way they had tried to bind her to a political marriage with the Phenex family. Their flippant attitude upon her first time returning home evidently hadn't helped matters either. Still, he supposed they had their reasons, however flawed they might be.

"I'll go check on her." With a brief nod to Akeno and the others, he stood up and left the dining area, following the same path Rias had taken. 

.

.

.

It didn't take long to reach her room, the door having been left fully open as if she had known he would follow. Inside, she lay face down on her bed, hugging a pillow tightly, her face buried against it. Upon hearing his footsteps, the tension in her back eased a touch.

"It's always the same thing with them…" her muffled voice drifted out. "They ignore everything I say, then go ahead and make decisions that change my life without even talking to me. And after all that, when I finally see them again they act like none of it was their fault — like it never even happened. Do they really think I'll just forgive and forget so easily when this is how they act?"

Archer leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "Do you hate them?"

The unexpected question made her stiffen. She turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze, and after a second of silence, she firmly shook her head. "No… I don't hate them. I couldn't. But it's… frustrating."

"I won't act like I understand everything going on in your family, Rias. I'm an outsider — it's not my place to stick my nose in. But if there's one thing I've learned in my lifetime, it's that genuine communication with the people you care most about is essential. It's likely they have their own reasons for acting the way they do. Whether those reasons are good or terrible, you won't understand them unless you confront them and talk it out."

"Are you defending them?" she asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.

He shook his head. "No. I'm just giving you the advice you need to deal with something that's clearly bothering you. Whether you follow it or not is up to you. I can't have this conversation with your parents for you, but just know that I'll support you in whatever you decide."

She hesitated, her grip on the pillow tightening. "Do you really think they'll even listen to me? How do I know they won't just ignore me again, treat me like some little girl who's incapable of understanding what's best for herself?"

"They could. But you won't know unless you try." The man pushed off the doorway, stepping inside. "One thing I can say for sure though is that you've changed a lot since the day I was summoned. Maybe they'll see that and start taking you more seriously. And if they give you a hard time, well… I'm more than happy to give them a reality check if that's what's needed."

That earned him a small chuckle. "You say that like you're about to intimidate them like some kind of Yakuza, Emiya."

He smirked. "I do get told I have quite a mean glare. Who knows, maybe it'll be useful."

She laughed again, a genuine one this time. Some of the frustration seemed to ease from her features, replaced by a more relaxed expression as she turned fully to look up at him. It was good to see her like this. He meant what he said — if she wanted things with her family to change, she needed to at least try talking to them in an open and constructive manner. It was a simple solution, but an effective one. Whether or not she went through with it was ultimately up to her. Even if her parents proved unreceptive, at least she'd have made the effort.

"Now then, unless I'm somehow mistaken you haven't eaten anything since we left the human world, Rias. It's not good for you to starve yourself like this, especially after going through a very stressful Dream Cycle. You really do need to eat something. After all, we have what will likely be a difficult mission ahead of us once this quick visit to your family is over." She would need to be in her best shape possible, in case the worst outcome he feared were to await them. 

She made a face, shaking her head. "I'm not really hungry. Besides, going back there now would just be awkward. And if you bring food here, Grayfia won't be happy."

Archer clicked his tongue, an idea forming in his mind. "Then how about this — what if I make something for you? Would you eat it then?"

Rias blinked, clearly surprised. "You? Do you actually want to cook for me? Here of all places?"

"I don't see why that's a problem. So, what do you say?"

She hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Fine. Just don't cause any trouble. Grayfia won't be happy if she finds out… no, when she finds out."

"I'll keep that in mind," he replied while his body vanished as he returned to his spiritual form. The mansion, though quite large, did not present much difficulty after a simple structural analysis of the walls. His magical energy spread through the building like a pulse, quickly allowing him to map out the complex's layout. In a matter of moments, he had pinpointed the kitchen's location. 

He started making his way toward it, reverting back to his physical form soon after. The hallways were quiet for the most part with a few servants passing by from time to time. Large portraits adorned the walls, a few of them showing several members of the family, including a much younger-looking Rias and even Sirzechs — though his younger self did not seem to be smiling that much. Fitting he supposed, as the elder sibling had been born during a time of brutal civil warfare, a much different time from what his Master had known by his understanding. 

After a few minutes of walking, he reached the kitchen. As soon as he entered, several maids glanced up at him with wide eyes, their hushed discussions halting abruptly as they exchanged confused looks. 

"Don't mind me, ladies, I'm just going to use this place for a bit." The sudden appearance of a stranger in this area clearly threw them off, but Archer paid them no mind. He continued walking steadily toward the heart of the kitchen without a second thought. 

"Impressive," he muttered, impressed by what he saw. "They didn't skip out in here either."

The kitchen was a sight to behold. 

Everything from the high-end ovens to the modern walk-in refrigerator was well-maintained, gleaming under the bright lights. The tools, utensils, and knives were meticulously arranged, each item in its proper place. There were even specialized cooking machines—dehydrators, vapor cookers, bamboo baskets, and deep fryers—for preparing dishes from all corners of the world. The pantry, likewise, was stocked with everything from rare spices to exotic ingredients that most chefs could only dream of having. The sheer wealth of options left him momentarily speechless. 

It was hard to believe such a kitchen existed outside of a Michelin-star restaurant. His mind raced, trying to select just one dish to make, but the sheer possibilities had his mind spinning. Still, as he carefully considered his options, an idea popped into his head.

"Well, she has been pretty into that ninja anime lately," he muttered to himself, deciding on something that might cheer her up. "Maybe I can make something from that to lift her spirits."

She would certainly enjoy ramen, but it wasn't exactly the most nutritious choice, being more of a comfort food. Still, such comfort food might be what her spirit could do with at this time, and he could always change up the recipe to make it more healthy. Yes, that sounded like what she needed at the moment.

With a wave of his hand, he conjured an apron. He then proceeded to grab a bag of wheat flour, salt, and several other ingredients, placing them neatly on the counter. The large table before him was spacious enough for twenty people to work at once, providing him ample room to prepare the dish. His movements were fluid and practiced, each one reflecting the years he had spent working in kitchens of all kinds.

As he began to prepare the dough, the rhythmic motions of his hands brought him a strange sense of peace… 

One that only lasted a few minutes before he felt a chill run down his spine, and he instinctively turned around, sensing something amiss. There, standing in the doorway, a familiar person stood all by herself. Her glare was intense, her expression sharp as a knife. 

"Well, hello there," Archer said, his voice casual but with a hint of amusement. "Hope you don't mind me borrowing a few of your utensils and ingredients. Just making something for my Master."

The woman didn't say a word. Instead, she walked forward with a purposeful stride, her eyes never straying from him. Without hesitation, she grabbed a kitchen knife and pointed it directly at his face, the tip mere inches from his eye.

Not having flinched, his smirk remained as he met her gaze, unbothered by the imminent threat.

"Get out of my kitchen," she growled, her voice low but full of authority.

He raised an eyebrow, still maintaining his casual demeanor. "Hoh… Not even going to bother with pleasantries, are you? Just jumping straight to the point?" He crossed his arms, unfazed by the blade in front of him. 

Grayfia lowered the knife, but only to his neck. She was clearly not in the mood for playful banter and stepped closer, the knife still in hand and its edge glinting dangerously. "I was being polite before because you are a guest, an honored guest for that matter, and because we were in Lady Rias's bed-chamber. But this kitchen is a different story. This is my domain, and you are not welcome here. If she requires food, I must insist you allow me to handle it."

The tension in the air was enough to make the other servants who had been watching from the sidelines until now look back and forth between the two of them nervously. They quickly decided that leaving the place in a hurry was the best choice for all of them. 

Not like he could fault them for that as they filed out in an orderly but rapid manner.

He ignored the knife, his focus already on the dough he was in the process of preparing. The sight of him casually resuming the work, right in front of her, only seemed to aggravate Grayfia further. Her grip on the knife tightened as she watched him work without a hint of concern for the weapon so close to his throat. 

"You saw how she didn't even touch anything that was prepared during the feast," Archer said, his tone casual but carrying an undertone of certainty. "Something tells me that was made by you. And she said it herself, she'd rather eat something I make instead."

Grayfia's eyes narrowed dangerously, her voice cold. "Watch your words, you do not want this fight, Servant." In a swift motion, she grabbed him by the collar, forcing him to meet her gaze. The air around her seemed to pulse with a potent demonic energy, far stronger than the power she had displayed in Rias' room. It was the same intensity he remembered from their first encounter. 

"I can ignore your previous insults once or twice," she hissed, her grip tightening. "But do not take me for a fool who will keep my head down every time you taunt me. I will not hesitate to kick you out of my kitchen with my own hands if I have to."

Archer's smirk didn't falter, his voice unbothered as he responded, "You are welcome to try, but I'd like to remind you how that ended last time we fought. Besides, you wouldn't want to destroy such a beautiful kitchen, I'm sure." 

As he had expected, those last words struck a chord. Grayfia hesitated, her resolve wavering slightly as she glanced around. It was true — she cared deeply about this place, just as someone who once bore the name Emiya Shirou cared about his own kitchen. Archer could see it in the brief flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

"Leave while you can before this escalates into something more than it needs to be," he continued the playful edge to his voice still there. "I'm just going to make a single dish and clean up, I won't use many utensils for the dish I need to make. You can even stay and watch, if you'd like. You might even learn a thing or two."

…That may not have been the best choice of words. The intensity in Grayfia's glare returned, and the pressure of her hold on his collar strengthened, her body radiating even more demonic power. Archer could almost feel the heat of her anger rising. 

"Like I said before, I am not Akeno," Grayfia's voice was cold and unyielding, each word deliberate. "You may be a hero from centuries ago, but do not for a second believe that intimidates me in the slightest. This is not the same as it was in your time, and I wager my cooking skills are greater than yours. Tea making was never my strong suit to begin with."

Before Archer could respond, a third voice interrupted the tense standoff.

"Oh my, I was wondering what all the commotion was about and what all of the maids were whispering about, but I wasn't expecting to see this," came the soft but firm voice of Venelana Gremory. Both Archer and Grayfia froze at the sound of her voice, turning to find her standing near the entrance, Millicas close behind her. "You two better be quiet, it's best to avoid causing a scandal. Already the maids are starting to whisper amongst themselves~!"

"Wait, are you going to fight, Archer?" Millicas asked excitedly, his eyes wide with curiosity as he stepped from behind his grandmother. "Can I watch? I want to see you use that arrow again!"

Grayfia quickly set the knife on the table and stepped forward, opening her arms as Millicas rushed toward her. "Millicas, dear, I think that's quite enough," she said, a warm smile spreading across her face as she enveloped the boy in a hug. "It's just about bedtime for you, my sweet boy. You should be going right now to get your proper rest."

"But I was just playing with Grandma and she was going to tell me a bedtime story," Millicas protested, looking up at her with a pleading expression. "But I also got curious about what was happening. Are you two having fun together?"

"No, we were not," Archer answered, his voice light but amused. Grayfia's eyes shifted to him, a sharp look that silently warned him to either leave or stay silent. He took the hint but grinned nonetheless.

"Actually, now that you two are here," he continued, "how about we have a friendly little competition?"

"Competition?" Both Millicas and Venelana repeated, their voices filled with interest. 

"Yes," he said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "You see, Grayfia here is a bit hesitant to let me use the kitchen, as she believes she can do a better job than me at making something for my Master."

The maid's expression darkened, her voice icy. "I have raised Lady Rias since she was a mere baby. Her whole life, I was the one who cooked all of her favorite meals for her, and I know her preferences better than anyone else."

Archer chuckled lightly. "I grant you that, but that doesn't mean someone else can't make a dish she may enjoy more than yours."

As soon as she heard Archer's proposal, Venelana clapped her hands together, a strange light flashing in her eyes. "Oh, I see what's going on here," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "This is certainly very interesting. But I must admit to also being curious to see why Sir Archer here can be so confident in the first place. And my daughter is clearly very fond of you and speaks highly of your skills. So I want to see for myself what you're capable of and just how far you're willing to go to take care of her. So, I accept. I want you two to have a competition, and Millicas will be the one to judge and taste."

Grayfia was stunned. She had initially expected Venelana to take her side, but instead, the situation had taken an unexpected turn. Looking down at her son, she saw the excitement in his eyes as he eagerly waited for her approval, his bright eyes matching hers with an energy that was impossible to ignore. She found herself at a loss for words, caught in a moment of helplessness. With a soft sigh, she relented. "Fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. 

"Yay!" Millicas cheered, jumping up in excitement.

"Wait just a second," Grayfia raised her hand, halting the celebration before anyone could speak further. "When I win, I want you to promise that you will never challenge me again in my own domain and acknowledge what I said beforehand."

Archer smirked but responded calmly, "I believe you meant to speak the words 'if you win.' Other than that, sure, why not?"

"Then so be it," Grayfia replied, her voice cool, before turning on her heels and heading into the pantry. Archer continued with his work, undisturbed by her departure.

The dish he was preparing wasn't particularly complex, and it would likely take about half an hour to finish from scratch for him. Making the noodles was easy. He kneaded the dough until it reached the perfect consistency, pulling it several times until the strands were the ideal thickness. He then cut the dough into portions and set them aside, sprinkling a bit of flour on top to prevent them from sticking together.

"Oh, I see you're making an Asian dish. How exquisite," Venelana commented, standing behind him with a curious look as she observed the process. Millicas joined her, watching eagerly as Grayfia silently observed the work from across the kitchen.

"My Master is a big fan of Asian cuisine in general as I'm sure you're aware," Archer explained casually. "Noodles, especially, are something she's never said no to. And recently, she's become an even bigger fan of them."

Grayfia's voice came from the pantry as she brought out chunks of steak, potatoes, garlic, and various vegetables. "You won't have enough time to make the broth," she stated, her tone confident as she looked over at his station. With just a glance, Archer could tell what dish she was planning to make.

"We'll see about that," he replied, his voice unruffled. He continued working at his station, setting up a stock pot filled with a bit of water, soy milk, and various vegetables and mushrooms, letting it heat. Beside it, he had another container with water already boiling, ready for the noodles. The last piece of his dish was the cod he had gotten from the pantry. He quickly prepared the pan, searing the fish while also working on a sauce in a separate bowl.

Minutes passed, and the smells of the simmering broth and the seared fish began to fill the kitchen. Millicas couldn't contain his excitement, salivating at the rich aroma, while Venelana's curiosity grew with each passing second. Grayfia's gaze narrowed as she worked more quickly, seemingly spurred on by the growing intensity of the competition. 

The entire scene made the eldest Devil in the room chuckle softly. "When was the last time I saw my daughter-in-law this competitive?" she mused aloud, an amused smile crossing her face. "Now I really can't wait to taste this. Even though I already had dinner, I'm starting to feel hungry again."

"Me too!" Millicas exclaimed with excitement, looking ready to jump out of his seat.

"Then you won't have to wait too long," Archer replied with a confident smile. He made his final preparations, dropping the sauce onto the pan, and reducing it while basting the fish. At the same time, he cooked the noodles in boiling water, which had been waiting for quite a while. 

The brunette Devil watched him while he was cooking the entire time, he was not sure what was going through her mind. "You know, it is a bit strange to see you like this. When I first saw your performance during the Rating Game, I admit I believed you to be a different kind of person." 

"Is it really that surprising to see me cook?" He asked, not taking any offense to that question. 

"In a way, yes." She admitted. "Even when you fought Grayfia, what we heard was pretty different… honestly you two are pretty similar." 

"Humph, no."

"Humph, no." 

Both maid and Servant ended up answering in unison, freezing for a few seconds while looking at one another. Grayfia was the first one to break her gaze, their reaction further amusing Venelana.

Choosing to ignore those comments, he focused on his tasks.

The broth had already reached the desired consistency. In just seconds, he prepared a bowl, pouring in the broth. Although he would have preferred to simmer it for another few hours, the ingredients he had chosen were good enough. He then added the noodles, followed by the fish, and topped it off with a few sprinkles of green onions and nori sheets. 

Overall, it only took him about an hour with the broth taking the most amount of time to be completed. He could have gone for something simpler just to half his time, but then again, the man did not regret his decision.

"Done," Archer announced, stepping back from his workstation.

"I'm finished too," Grayfia said, surprising everyone. In exactly one hour, both chefs had completed their dishes and placed them on the table in front of Millicas and Venelana. Grayfia's dish was set down in front of the pair of impromptu judges with a sense of pride. 

"Japanese hamburger steak with a side of potato wedges and a salad?" The brunette remarked, eyeing the presentation. 

"It's been one of Lady Rias's favorite dishes since she was a child," Grayfia explained calmly, though Archer detected a hint of smugness in her tone as she hid her dish from view. "Were you seriously trying to make ramen in such a short amount of time? Foolish."

Archer didn't respond to her taunt, instead choosing to let the others form their own judgment as they tasted the food. 

Millicas was the first to try his mother's dish. He took a bite and immediately began singing her praises. "It's amazing! I've never had this before. What'd you say it's called? Hamburger steak? Why didn't you ever make this before?" he asked, his mouth still full, while Venelana hummed in delight after taking a spoonful.

"As expected of Grayfia," Venelana said with satisfaction. "I doubt even the best chef in the entire Underworld could make something as good as this. I have to admit, Sir Archer, maybe you picked a losing battle, as I can't see anyone surpassing this level of cooking."

"Perhaps," Archer replied, not looking worried at all. "Though I would appreciate it if you at least give my dish a taste before passing judgment. I'm curious to see what you both think." 

At first, Millicas was unsure how to approach the dish, struggling with the pair of chopsticks. His grandmother, seeing his dilemma, handed him a fork. Embarrassed, he took a piece of the cod and bit into it. Immediately, his eyes widened, stars seeming to sparkle in them. 

"This is amazing!" he exclaimed, grabbing another bite, and almost finishing the entire dish in his excitement.

"Honestly, dear, don't forget your table manners!" Venelana gently reminded him, lightly tugging his ear. 

"Sorry, Grandma! Here, have a taste! It's amazing!" Millicas offered her a piece of the dish. Venelana's expression softened as she tasted it. And with that bite, her reaction mirrored his. 

"This cannot be just seared fish," Venelana murmured. "It tastes so different."

Archer smiled at her reaction. "I use a mixture of teriyaki sauce, mirin, chili oil, sugar, and other ingredients. The fish by itself is good enough, but the sauce elevates the overall flavor. I'd recommend trying it with the broth and noodles as well." 

Without hesitation, both Venelana and Millicas followed his advice. As they tasted it together, they couldn't help but get lost in the flavors, savoring every bite. Only when Grayfia cleared her throat did they snap back to reality.

"In all my years," Venelana said in shock, "I can't remember the last time I had something as good as this."

"Then you should really travel around Japan more often. And other parts of Asia," Archer replied casually. "Though I certainly do take pride in my cooking, I know there are others in the world who can easily make a better version of this dish and many others."

Grayfia, still baffled by the reaction, stared at her son, who continued devouring Archer's dish. She could hardly believe what was happening. Her confidence faltered, she decided to try her opponent's dish herself, and the first spoonful she tasted left her stunned. 

"You're probably curious about the broth," Archer explained. "I used vegetables, a bit of water, but mostly soy milk, with kombu, garlic, and more chili oil to enhance the overall flavor. It doesn't take hours to make, which is why it was the only option I had to come close to a ramen broth."

She didn't respond immediately. Instead, Grayfia took another bite of the cod, her eyes narrowing in thought. She then turned her attention to her dish, grabbing a piece of the hamburger steak. Millicas, having already tried both dishes, offered to let Archer taste his mother's hamburger steak. The moment the Servant tasted the meal, his eyes widened in surprise. It was much better than he expected. 

The man doubted if he could make a better-tasting hamburger himself had they cooked the same thing.

"You're no slouch yourself," he commented, nodding approvingly.

Rather than wait for Millicas to pass judgment, Grayfia stepped aside, removing her apron. The expression on her face was one Archer hadn't seen before, her usual composure replaced with something more subdued. 

"Seems like I was wro… wrong," she admitted, her voice tinged with difficulty, as though the very words pained her more than any agony a holy blade could inflict. She took a deep breath, a faint blush forming on her cheeks as she extended her hand to him. "Y-You win."

"Seriously? You're not going to wait for your son to make the judgment?" Archer asked, surprised by her sudden acknowledgment. 

"No," Grayfia replied coolly. "I am mature enough to know when someone has bested me… even if by a small margin." She then tightened her grip on his hand, pulling him a bit closer just like she did before but without holding back. Her cold words whispered right next to his ear where he felt her breath touch his skin. "But this is not the end. Next time, I'll be the one winning and you will be the one acknowledging that yourself. So enjoy your victory while you can, Archer — I am just getting started."

She released his hand and returned to her usual calm demeanor, walking to the other side of the counter. "Come now, Millicas. You really shouldn't stay up this late at night. I'll read you a bedtime story instead."

"Okay!" Millicas said eagerly, getting off his seat. He finished the dish Archer made, quickly polishing off the rest before leaving the kitchen with his mother. That left only Archer and Venelana in the room.

Venelana chuckled at Archer's surprised expression, having overheard Grayfia's words. "Careful there," she teased. "You've just ignited the competitive fire within her. Now she won't let you go until she beats you — especially after such a display on your part."

Archer let out an uncomfortable chuckle, realizing perhaps he had gone a bit too far with his actions. "I wasn't trying to start anything like that…"

"Sure you weren't," Venelana replied coolly, her tone playful. "But this is still the result, and there's nothing you can do about it except admit your defeat next time." She leaned against the counter, her gaze fixed on him. "But still…" She seemed to consider her next words carefully. "I wouldn't mind you visiting us more often. It's been quite fun having you around my family, and I'd very much like to get to know the hero my daughter summoned better."

At that moment, Archer felt something was off, a subtle shift in her demeanor. His instincts told him something about this woman was amiss, though not in a dangerous manner. All the same, he wisely held his tongue and decided to play it safe, giving her a polite smile. "I'll clean up the place and go feed my Master. I hope you have a good night, Lady Venelana."

"Please, don't call me Lady," Venelana said with a gentle smile. "Since my husband has asked that you address him casually, surely I can ask the same thing. Having someone who's practically family address me in that manner makes me feel old. Just call me Venelana, or even Vena if you prefer. Even Mother works if it's just the two of us."

"I think I'll stick with Venelana," he said with a dry tone, unable to shake the feeling that this gorgeous woman was planning something.

{Break}

(Next morning)

After the entire situation last evening, things that morning had managed to progress quite smoothly, and right now Archer and the others were gathered in another part of the mansion.

"Archer."

While he had hoped to keep the matter quiet, his Master had already begun to suspect something.

"Did something happen last night?" Rias whispered, glancing between him and Grayfia. Akeno, who was right next to the both of them, also had a curious look in her eyes. "Ever since breakfast, she's been glaring daggers at you. I'm half expecting her to attack you at any moment."

"You're imagining things."

"Oh? Then what about the multiple times she kept asking you how the food tasted with what I can only describe as barely contained venom?" Akeno cut in. "Are you sure she did not poison your food?"

He was of half a mind to actually believe that last part, but he had not detected anything after analyzing the food. "I think she just wanted a professional opinion."

"If you say so," Akeno relented with a frown.

Both girls still looked suspicious, but they couldn't push the matter further as the door opened and Grayfia stepped out, gesturing for them to enter.

"Lord Sirzechs and Lord Ajuka are inside, waiting for you."

Finally, they were about to face the primary reason for their trip to the Underworld. As they headed inside, Archer and Grayfia exchanged glances, her intense glare making him slightly uncomfortable. Choosing to ignore it, he walked ahead, pretending not to notice.

The moment they entered, the group saw Sirzechs and Ajuka seated near the main office table, surrounded by piles of documents and several familiars.

"Careful, Master."

Archer stopped the group before they could step further, his sharp eyes noticing a bounded field spell on the floor. It was immediately dispelled by Ajuka, who stepped forward and gave them a polite nod.

"Forgive me for the precaution. It's a habit I developed recently after… previous incidents. Please, come in. We have important matters to discuss."

Sirzechs got up, looking a bit more tired than Rias had ever seen him in the past. "Sorry I was not able to join you all for dinner last night, I was swamped with paperwork, and both Ajuka and I received urgent news that needed our attention."

"Have you found anything from the notes I gave you?" Rias asked immediately, her focus entirely on the crucial matter — the notes detailing how to summon a Servant.

Sirzechs sighed. "I cannot say for certain."

"What do you mean?"

"We believe we may have found out where Diodora is, but our agents are hesitant to move in with a… possible Servant in the area as well."

"So he did summon one!" Rias shouted, making others in her peerage get more worried.

"W-Will we have to deal with another Rider case?" Issei commented, going somewhat pale at that idea. "I don't think I can survive a kick from someone that strong."

"We will survive," Yuuto added, calming down Issei and Koneko. "We don't even know which class was summoned. From what Archer mentioned, not all Servants fight the same way as Rider or Saber. We might fare better against the others, besides, our goal is not to fight them but find Diodora and the notes."

"Alright, I'll trust you, for now, Kiba… "

"I-I'll help out as much as I can and make sure everyone is safe!" Asia said, making the others smile at her words as they brought them some form of motivation and assurance.

Though Koneko on the other hand remained quiet.

Sirzechs nodded, not adding anything to that and instead answering Rias' question. "There is a high possibility that he has indeed summoned one. There are too many signs we cannot ignore anymore and as for the notes… I cannot guarantee if they are still within his possession or not."

A Servant huh… with himself, Rider, Saber, Assassin, and Lancer already summoned, that only left him with two options. 

Unfortunately, he had terrible experiences with both classes in the past. 

The worst-case scenario was for them to be dealing with a completely different class or multiple Servants. 

'Hopefully, I am not dealing with the same Servants from Fuyuki… Caster will be a nightmare within the Underworld's environment and we won't be able to find her if she tries to hide.' 

Of course, Berserker was just as bad. But the only saving grace was that he doubted this Diodora character would be anything like Illya who managed to keep control over him due to her heavily modified body.

At the end of the day, he could only hope for the best and rely on his luck. 

Which in itself did not give him that much confidence.

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The next 5 chapters of Snafu, and my other Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword with 3 chapters, A Fake Familiar Reborn with 3 chapters, Steel Eyed Faker soon to be 3 chapters, Hound having 3 and To love a sword having 4 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise, Broly and Snafu.