No matter what, Cú Chulainn (Odin) was determined to stay under the radar.
He had no intention of letting anyone learn his real identity.
Cú Chulainn (Odin) figured pulling it off would be simple enough. After all, he was currently wearing Cú Chulainn's skin. There was no way anyone in the Chaldea group could possibly see through the disguise.
Medusa studied the newcomer. She had seen this face before, but she only recognized the outer shell.
"You're the Caster!"
Cú Chulainn (Odin) answered in Cú Chulainn's easy drawl, flashing Medusa a grin. "Yo, Rider. It hasn't been that long. Why the sudden change of sides?"
Olga Marie caught the exchange and immediately tensed, eyes narrowing at the Servant. "So that's a Caster-class Servant?"
Up to this point, every Servant the Director had met in this Singularity had been hostile. For this unknown quantity, only Mash was confirmed as an ally. Mash, Ritsuka Fujimaru, and Olga Marie all snapped into defensive stances at once, ready for a fight.
Cú Chulainn (Odin) had been certain no one from Chaldea could pierce his cover. Yet among the group, Adam was still idly stroking Fou's fluffy ears, watching the whole scene with open amusement.
The atmosphere had gone sour. Nearly everyone was on edge. To head off trouble, Cú Chulainn (Odin) spoke up quickly.
"Easy, everyone. I'm not your enemy."
"In fact, you could say we're on the same side."
The group blinked, then turned as one toward Adam. Somehow, without anyone noticing, Adam had become the quiet center of the team.
Adam kept watching Cú Chulainn (Odin) with that same interested smile, saying nothing. He was clearly weighing something.
Medusa assumed he was deciding whether to trust the Caster's claim, so she offered what she knew.
"This guy really has been attacking the other Servants in this Singularity. I don't know his exact goal, but one thing's certain—he's an enemy to every other Servant here."
Adam glanced at Medusa. He still hadn't told her that his own Chaldea timeline had already reached a far later point. The finer details of this particular Singularity were hazy, but he remembered clearly enough who the allies and enemies were. He'd fill her in later.
More pressing was the fact that this was Singularity F. If the man in front of him really was Odin, then he had to know the full picture of this place far better than anyone. Adam needed to coax some answers out of him.
Cú Chulainn (Odin) couldn't hear Adam's thoughts, but the others' reactions had already told him Adam was the one calling the shots. Seeing the young man stay silent, he decided to prove his sincerity.
He would give them his True Name—the True Name of the skin he wore. He was leaving soon anyway; Cú Chulainn could deal with the fallout later.
"To show I'm serious, I'll tell you right now. My name is Cú Chulainn, Ireland's Child of Light. As Rider said, I'm a Caster."
Ritsuka Fujimaru scratched her head, clearly drawing a blank. "Cú Chulainn? Never heard of him."
Olga Marie stared at her, brow furrowed in disbelief. "You really don't know?"
"He's the hero of the Ulster Cycle in Celtic legend—a member of the Red Branch Knights, Ulster's greatest warrior."
Ritsuka Fujimaru nodded with an expression that tried very hard to look knowledgeable. "Ohhh…"
Olga Marie saw straight through her and gave a flat, deadpan look. "You have no idea, do you?"
Caught red-handed, Ritsuka Fujimaru laughed awkwardly and scratched her head again. "Heh, can't help it. They never covered any of this in history class."
Olga Marie sighed. "When we get back, I'm giving you remedial lessons whether you like it or not."
Ritsuka Fujimaru's face crumpled at the word "lessons." "Why do I still have to study after becoming a Master?"
Olga Marie ignored the complaint. Those lessons were happening.
She turned back to Cú Chulainn (Odin), weighing his claim. His clothing did look authentically Irish, and Cú Chulainn was certainly capable of manifesting as a Caster. Still, friend or foe? She instinctively looked to Adam.
"Adam, what's your take?"
Adam met Cú Chulainn (Odin)'s eyes and smiled. "He really is Cú Chulainn, and yes, he's an ally."
"But…"
He stopped petting Fou and set the little creature on his shoulder.
Cú Chulainn (Odin) watched Adam's cheerful grin and felt a sudden chill. Something was off.
Adam stepped closer, still smiling.
That inexplicable sense of danger grew stronger. Cú Chulainn (Odin)'s brow twitched.
He was about to speak when Adam beat him to it.
"You're Odin, aren't you?"
The words were spoken like a simple statement of fact.
The moment "Odin" left Adam's mouth, a giant question mark seemed to pop over Cú Chulainn (Odin)'s head.
Odin: ???
What the hell! Damn it!
No way, guys!
Did I just give away that I'm Odin?
Are you cheating?!
No, wait—he had to be guessing. This was impossible.
Adam glanced at the system window that had just lit up.
[Odin Emotion Value +10]
That sealed it. The Servant standing in front of him was Odin himself.
The rest of the group reacted instantly. Even Ritsuka Fujimaru looked stunned. Odin's name was famous enough that anyone who had touched anime or games knew at least the basics.
Ritsuka Fujimaru stared at Adam, wide-eyed. "Odin! You mean the Odin I'm thinking of?"
Mash's eyes went huge. "Yes, Senpai. You heard right."
Olga Marie looked utterly incredulous. "The King of the Gods from Norse mythology—Odin!"
Medusa's mouth fell open slightly. "It really is…"
[Odin Emotion Value +10]
[Olga Marie Emotion Value +10]
[Mash Emotion Value +10]
[Ritsuka Fujimaru Emotion Value +10]
[Medusa Emotion Value +10]
***
Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well. I just wanted to let you know that right now I'm working on a really good and promising naruto fanfic. If you're interested in reading it, feel free to give it a try:
[Naruto: Pathological Liar]
Synopsis:
After reincarnated as a worthless member of the Hyūga branch family...
Fate handed me the worst possible script, but that's fine... I was born to be the greatest actor.
Are you ready?
My name is Hyūga Kumokawa.
I'm going to weave one enormous lie.
And make the entire ninja world dance to it.
---