The Familiar of Fate: Chapter 109 – Back on Track(3)
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Fate stood still as Liza held her foot above the ring, preparing to fulfill his orders and smash the vessel for his counterpart into pieces…

He could still hear the droning of his copy in the background, yelling at the girl who couldn’t hear him no matter what it tried to do, while he grinned in anticipation. One might think that someone would show at least some degree of hesitation when faced with such a matter as...murdering a copy of oneself, however, Fate didn’t seem to be subject to this hesitation.

He felt bitter about how he had been the butt of the joke for his counterpart’s battle against the Witch, it had attempted to drag him through his memories to break him, and it had earned him the further ire of the most dangerous man that Fate currently knew existed, Jacob...so needless to say, he didn’t have any positive feelings towards the clone, even if it was himself. And so, he grinned like a demented devil and watched on.

When he continued to see that Liza had not lowered her foot, though, his smile began to slowly sink, as it appeared that it wasn’t just himself that his doppelganger could prevent from attacking it. However, as Liza’s nervous, somewhat confused face came back into view and as she lowered her leg, the reality of the situation became clear…

Liza: “My lord...I do not mean to question you...but are you sure that...you truly desire this servant to trample your property underfoot…?”

It now seemed apparent that she hadn’t proceeded because she was worried that Fate was testing her, causing him to give a slight sigh of relief, much to Liza’s continued confusion.

He positioned himself on his toes, put his hands on her shoulders, and with his devilish smile, he told her…

Fate: “Yes, yes, smash away!~ Don’t hesitate, just really dig your heel in...especially when you’re crushing the gem!~”

His gleeful tone gave Liza no room to question what his intentions were, as she prepared to raise her leg to strike. However, Fate’s hands still rested on her shoulders, the joints in his fingers frequently shifting, and Fate appeared to be similarly confused…

『It’s true that I can’t control her...but I still have you, don’t I, buddy?~』

Fate could feel momentary lapses in the control of his body, which was most likely the creature manipulating him. He attempted to pry himself away from Liza, but every time his fingers attempted to release their grip, a short burst of powerless caused them to slacken. 

At this point, Liza had noticed that something was wrong, but had not attempted to free herself, instead,  remaining still as she stared questioningly into Fate’s furious glare, which, again, seemed to be directed toward the ring on the floor. He was still forced to continue standing on his toes, his smile having turned into barred teeth as he struggled to keep his balance.

『Sure, I can’t take full control, or our roles probably would’ve been reversed as soon as we got out of the mindscape, and I wouldn’t be stuck in the ring...but I can still mess with you a little…~ Now, before you end up falling over or crying, how about we…?!』

Liza: “My lord, are you quite alright?”

『Hey, hey, what’re you doing?!』

Liza had used the time during the ring’s speech to reach down and pick it up off the floor, as the flimsy blue light in the gem flickered helplessly. She then lowered Fate onto the ground, releasing him from the torment of balancing on his toes.

Finally, much to the confusion of Fate, Liza bent her back and lowered herself to meet Fate’s gaze…

Liza: “You don’t appear to want to speak to this servant on the matter of the ring, and you seem extremely cross with it. So…”

She indicated for him to open his palm, which he did without hesitation, almost unawaredly, as she gently placed the ring in his now open hand…

『You shouldn’t be touching me, damn girl!』

Liza now curled Fate’s fingers, closing the ring inside his fist and sliding his hand into his pocket with a slight smile, this one not seeming as pronounced as her usually bright smile. However, her normal smile soon emerged as she playfully spoke…

Liza: “This servant does not mind being so close to you, my lord, but you should properly ask before laying your hands on a lady.~ However, please do keep in mind your standing if you are to attempt such an act in the presence of others…~”

Fate felt his mind drain of color, as he marveled at how Liza had completely misread the situation. Having momentarily forgotten about the ring and having been dumbfounded at this newest misunderstanding, Fate could only think to retake the situation with his past-life’s style of rhetoric and wit.

His eyebrows lowered and his expression grew blank, as he nonchalantly and sarcastically ushered his next words…

Fate: “...Lady, really...?”

At this comment, Liza’s gentle gaze and bright smile were tossed to the wind, being replaced with a cold stare and emotionless frown, which caused Fate to shiver as he instantly regretted attempting to speak as his past self had. 

Having been isolated and have attempted to stay silent against Liza’s daily inquiries, he had seemingly forgotten to hold his tongue, something that his past self had rarely done. 

His flashback was soon interrupted by Liza’s nimble fingers swiftly wrapping around his own, twisting his joints and rapidly rubbing the skin of his fingers until they began to turn red, all while she pulled his wrist in various directions! 

『I can’t see, but I can sense your pain!~ Suffer, suffer, you bastard!~』

This only lasted for a moment before she released him, allowing him to gently grip his now extremely stinging hand while sucking his lips. If one saw his face now, they might mistake him for a strange pufferfish. It seemed as though his pain had sated Liza’s cold fury, as her emotionless stare and frown soon disappeared.

Liza: “Ahem! I do apologize, my lord, but this one is a proud lady, who doesn’t wish her pride to be insulted. Please forgive this one’s...necessary lesson in manners.”

-Necessary?!

He looked at her as if she had betrayed him in the heat of battle, but he couldn’t help it. Admittedly, he had brought it on himself and the punishment itself wasn’t particularly severe, but he couldn’t question if this was the true face of his servant…

[Clap!]

His vision of the two faces of Liza was brought to an abrupt halt, as her clap snapped him out of his thoughts. Now, she looked at him with a serious gaze, which caused him to swallow nervously…

Liza: “Now, moving on from the previous matter...I was able to encounter Lord Jacob, and I have returned to bring you to him.”

Fate’s inner tantrum was replaced with the cold, bleak visions of the future that awaited him, the suffering that awaited him at Jacob’s hands…

However, this sense of imminent dread was somewhat dispelled by the sudden appearance of a nervous smile on Liza’s face, though it seemed more confusing than comforting.

Liza: “I wish to inform you that he does not seem to be taking any sort of grudge for your previous actions against him into account for this meeting…”

『That’s weird, I was having a good time, but he didn’t look he was having one!~ I guess the old man’s more mature than I thought...』

The weight on Fate’s shoulder lifted, and he heaved a sigh of relief, wiping the imaginary sweat off his brow. Although this didn’t mean that Jacob would take it easy on him, it meant that, at least, he wouldn’t be suffering as much of a loss as he potentially would in an encounter with a vengeful mentor.

Soon, though, Liza’s anxious smile was replaced with an extremely nervous frown...

Liza: “However, he has requested that I bring you to a location...outside of the manor, my lord...and he asked me...to give you this, though he told me not to look inside until you had done so...”

From her tone, he could tell that she was scared...However, Fate attempted to push through his own fear as he carefully loosened the bindings around the small pouch. Her nervous gaze reached his eyes, as he took the bag from her hands and slid his hand inside of it. 

Immediately, his hand fell upon something cold and metallic, which caused him to gasp in pain as he felt his fingers making contact with a sharp edge, at which point he removed his hand from the bag!

Fate: “Ouch!”

 Fate released the pouch, allowing it to drop the floor!

[Clang!]

The two children covered their ears as a loud ringing echoed throughout the room! It appeared that, as Fate was opening the bag, the item he had touched previously had slipped out of the bag, falling to the floor, below the light of Liza’s lantern, which she had placed on the dresser to see the ring better…

Though the ringing only lasted a few moments, both children were shocked at how loud it had been. They now starred at the floor, at the vague silhouette that now rested in the shadows below their feet, with gazes that were a mix of fear and curiosity…

Liza now took the lantern from off the dresser, allowing its light to permeate the shadows that clouded the floor. 

[Clang!]

What they saw caused Liza to drop the lantern to the floor, the shock extinguishing the candle inside as both children quivered at the sight…

Liza: “T-that...can’t be…”

Liza’s voice trembled as she looked at the item on the ground, while Fate raised his vision to his quivering fingers...allowing him to see a thin line of blood across the two that had been stung by the contents of the bag…

Fate now returned his gaze to the restored shadow, lowered his hand and carefully identified what appeared to be a short, leather grip before raising the object up so that he could examine it, once more…

Both children now had their shuddering eyes locked to the item in Fate’s hands, as he brought the faintly glowing ring out of his pocket, whose light exposed a metallic sheen that made even the doppelganger’s breath chill…

『N-not again, not again...It-t’s...a…!!!』

Fate: “...K-k...k-knife…!”

All three individuals, though one was dragged along, now crept back, as Fate dropped the bloodstained blade to the ground, again...

It seemed as though Fate’s future...had grown even more uncertain…

...

[Chapters completed this week: 4/7]

Also, yes, in order to fulfill my quota, this will be a quadruple upload day! So be prepared!~

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