Chapter 1133

Fate/ Emiya family's meal.

「Eh eh— This can't be rushed! And I've wanted to say this for a long time—when there are fifteen doors… Is this timing something you agreed upon with the stars? 」

Seeing Nakesha's impatient look, Lin couldn't help but think of Professor Laatio. Although their environments are worlds apart, their tempers are quite similar. If these two could someday teach at a university, they'd probably have a lot in common, right?

「Hehe, I'd love to know what would happen if Nakesha's student were Su Shang—could he teach Su Shang to become like Bai'e or Xiadie? 」

「……」 Archer silently put down his chopsticks, 「How about it, Lin—do you dislike Nakesha that much? Are you trying to get revenge on him this way? 」

Lin waved his hands repeatedly: 「No way! I'm just purely curious about how Su Shang would behave in Nakesha's class. Before, Su Shang said she often slept in class and got her palm hit by the teacher's ruler often, but Nakesha surely isn't the type to use force, right? How would he teach Su Shang? Aren't you curious? 」

「I'm not curious, because I think given his personality, when he notices Su Shang's sleep quality becoming exceptionally good in class, he probably wouldn't waste his energy on her. By comparison, I think Professor Laatio might be more suited to teach Su Shang a bit……」

「Indeed… Su Shang's grades at school have never been great; maybe she just hasn't met a good teacher. If she encountered a better one…… she might even excel in both literature and martial arts! 」

——

「Nakesha walked out of the hall and, from afar, saw Seathis admiring a painting of himself. 」

「「Ah! That big tree in the mural… could it be me? 」」

「One could see many debating scholars standing beneath the mural, heads raised, admiring 「Seathis」, their expressions utterly entranced. 」

「「Every plant, every vine, every forest leaf could be an incarnation of Seathis……Therefore, mortals cannot know its true form, so they depict the Titan as a great tree, wisdom as fruit, symbolizing that it shares knowledge equally with all……It's absolutely exquisite! 」」

「Seathis couldn't help but critique: 「This mural is indeed somewhat abstract. 」」

「「I can't tell whether you're praising or belittling yourself. I'm curious—did the Rational Titan study rhetoric? 」 Nakesha asked sharply. 」

「「Hehe, of course I find it interesting," Seathis said, tilting his head slightly. "Who knows—this might just be the answer to what 'we' really are. 」」

「Nakesha tilted his head: 「Hmph, I don't want to admit I look like this ugly thing. 」」

「「Hehe… could it be that, for this reason, you tried to refine my soul when you were ambushed in the tree garden? 」」

「「Since you know this so well, why did you bother to save me back then? 」」

「Seathis smiled satisfactorily: 「In my view, you merely holding this point is enough to set you apart from ordinary folk. 」」

「Nakesha let out a soft sigh: 「Ah… how can two lunatics fit in one head? 」」

「「So, your coming to the Dawn Cloud Cliff… could it be merely to seek refuge…… What exactly do you intend to do? 」」

「「The full plan is in my mind—you might as well look for it yourself. 」」

「「Hehe, then I won't decline……one year, two years……」 As he counted, Seathis chuckled, seeming to have found something amusing: 「Ah, the famous Seven Sages actually need to sleep holding a giant beast plush? Interesting……」」

——

A Certain Scientific Railgun.

「What? Nakesha actually hugs a giant beast plush at night? 」

「Are you sure it's Nakesha? This Nakesha who doesn't have even a shred of awe for the Titans?? 」

Saten struggled to imagine the scene: Nakesha in pajamas hugging a giant beast plush as tall as a person, rolling around on the bed……and then she couldn't help but let out a pffft.

……This is way too much of a contrast!!

「「So, people call him 'the giant beast in splendid attire' not because he looks like one, but because he personally loves giant beasts? 」 Misaka Mikoto's eye kept twitching, 「This is truly…… beyond expectation. 」」

「You wouldn't tell from Nakesha Teacher's stern exterior that he has zero resistance to cute critters. 」

Misaka showed a puzzled expression: 「Wait… do you think the words 'giant beast' and 'cute' have anything to do with each other? That kind of colossal beast could step on you and turn you into 2D with one foot!! 」

Perhaps it's a psychological effect, but Misaka feels that Nakesha, who just maintained a strong impression in her mind, seems to have shown a hint…… of a crack? As if something cute had quietly mixed in.

Saten couldn't help but curl the corner of her mouth: 「So, Seathis is definitely doing this on purpose, right? Should we next talk about Nakesha's dark childhood history? Hmm…… I kind of want to hear it. 」

——

「「……Enough. 」 Nakesha coldly cut him off. 」

「「Your soul is trembling—how rare. There must be some unknown secret behind that toy, right? 」」

「「Hmph… anyway, we don't have much time left, so it's fine to talk. It's a gift from my sister, made in the likeness of our family pet. 」」

「Seathis asked curiously: 「Do you still have family? Are they also in Aohema City? 」」

「Nakesha shrugged: 「You don't love looking at my mind, do you? Keep flipping ahead. Before long… when you reach age five, you'll know the answer. 」」

「Seathis let out a soft sigh: 「……Black tide everywhere, unbearable to behold. 」」

「Nakesha turned around, looked up at the wall painting of Seathis beside him: 「As a child, I couldn't accept this result either. Gioria, Aegle, KefaLe…… of course, and you too. I begged every Titan I could, but alas, it was to no avail. 」」

「「This… could this be the beginning of your research into alchemy? 」」

「「Exactly, it all began in your lush garden. While I was studying there, I naturally came into contact with Celessus's theory. 」」

「「Oh, I remember him. He was the one who first proposed the concept of the soul, right? 」」

「Nakesha nodded: 「Not only that, he also believed that the composition, movement, and change of all life and matter stem from the soul itself. So I thought…… since all life comes from the same source——why can't I sacrifice myself to bring my loved ones back to life? 」」