Kuro understood the situation quite realistically.
Fighting Gilgamesh in a long-range battle was a bad option, considering his own treasury of weapons was still nowhere near capable of matching the sheer volume of attacks from the King of Heroes' Gate of Babylon.
Because of that, Kuro chose a different approach.
Close combat.
If he could force the battle into a close-quarters zone, Gilgamesh's ability to unleash his full potential would be significantly reduced.
Or at least, more controlled.
More importantly, this approach would significantly reduce the possibility of Gilgamesh using Ea.
Something Kuro truly wanted to avoid.
Technically, he did possess Utu Duranki, a Noble Phantasm that could be used as a countermeasure against an Ea-class threat.
However, the problem was simple.
Kuro had absolutely no idea what would happen if two such destructive concepts directly collided.
The consequences were too unpredictable.
And potentially far more troublesome than the conflict itself.
Rather than betting on a high-risk scenario, Kuro preferred a safer path.
More pragmatic.
More aligned with his way of thinking.
Because of that, every sword swing, every step, and every analysis in this sparring session had a clear purpose.
This was not just ordinary training.
It was an investment for a truly important future battle.
Soon after, the rhythm of the training finally came to a halt.
Two wooden swords locked in a crossed guard, creating a small pressure between them. Kuro and Chiyome stood fairly close, in a distance that left almost no personal space.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
Chiyome looked at Kuro in silence.
Her gaze was steady.
But a little too long.
It was not something unusual.
Kuro's charm already exceeded normal human standards.
Combined with the intense time spent together over the past few days, increasingly personal interactions, and Kuro's habit of teasing her just to see her reactions, something had slowly begun to grow within Chiyome.
A feeling that was calm.
Warm.
Yet also slightly complicated.
Chiyome was fully aware of one fact.
That feeling was not exclusive.
There were other people beside Kuro.
And most likely, there would always be.
However, strangely enough, that fact did not truly bother her.
As long as she could remain by Kuro's side—serving as both a kunoichi and his Servant—that alone already felt sufficient.
Kuro, noticing her gaze, finally smiled gently.
"Is there something on my face, Chi-chan?"
That question immediately brought Chiyome back to reality.
Her eyes widened slightly, while a faint blush appeared on her face.
"N-no, nothing…"
Her answer sounded slightly flustered, almost like someone who had just been caught doing something too obvious.
She quickly turned her face away.
Lowering her wooden sword as well.
Quietly, Chiyome took a slow breath, trying to calm herself.
It took a few seconds before her thoughts returned to a stable rhythm.
After that, she looked back at Kuro with an expression that was already far more composed.
"My Lord," she said finally, returning to a professional tone, "your development in close combat style is quite impressive."
Her gaze briefly shifted to Kuro's footwork and posture.
"However…"
She paused for a moment.
"For some reason…"
"I feel like you would be very suited to becoming a shinobi."
Kuro fell silent for a moment upon hearing that.
Then the Sharingan in his eyes slowly disappeared, the blood-red color fading back to normal.
He lowered his wooden sword.
"Basically," he said casually, "this eye originally comes from a ninja world."
He lifted one hand, briefly pointing at his eye.
"Maybe that's why there's some influence."
His tone sounded thoughtful.
"Both in instinct, perception, and combat habits."
After saying that, Kuro sat down casually on the training ground.
His legs stretched forward, while the wooden sword was placed beside him.
A small golden ripple opened in the air.
From the Gate of Babylon, he pulled out a bottle of water.
"And," he continued while twisting the cap open, "that probably also explains why I'm quite compatible with the shinobi approach."
He then raised the bottle and finished it in one go.
After finishing, Kuro exhaled softly.
Much more relaxed.
Chiyome watched him for a moment, then without much hesitation sat down beside him as well.
Her movement remained calm, orderly, and elegant as always.
The distance between them was not too close.
But also not too far.
Just natural.
She placed her wooden sword on the other side, then folded both hands on her lap.
Her gaze stayed forward, toward the strange distorted landscape of the Mirror Dimension.
"If My Lord were truly born in a ninja world," she said softly, "I believe you would be a very troublesome shinobi to deal with."
Her tone remained flat.
But there was a subtle hint of praise in it.
She glanced at Kuro from the corner of her eye.
"Especially because you adapt too quickly."
A brief pause.
Then she added, in a slightly softer voice, "…and you are quite cunning."
The last sentence sounded more like a personal observation than a direct criticism, carrying a faint trace of amusement.
Kuro showed no sign of offense.
Instead, he chuckled softly.
"Calling me cunning?" he said while holding back a smile. "That's quite harsh, Chi-chan."
He turned toward Chiyome, his expression far more relaxed after the training.
"I just like making plans."
Chiyome fell silent for a moment.
Her gaze shifted toward Kuro, and unexpectedly, the corner of her lips lifted slightly.
A very faint smile.
So subtle it was almost impossible to notice.
"My Lord," she said calmly, "that is a rather polite definition of 'cunning.'"
Her tone remained steady.
But there was a slight warmth hidden underneath.
"I did not intend it as an insult."
After a brief pause, she continued in a quieter voice.
"On the contrary."
That sentence carried far more sincerity than usual.
"A proper shinobi does not always win through direct strength."
Her hand moved neatly, slightly adjusting her sitting posture.
"Manipulating information, preparation, traps, reading opponents, and forcing situations into one's own scenario."
She glanced at Kuro briefly.
"In many cases, those are far more important."
Her tone remained stable, but the content was clearly appreciative.
Chiyome turned her gaze back to the distorted landscape ahead.
"So, if My Lord were truly in a ninja world…"
She paused briefly, as if choosing her words carefully.
"…you would likely survive for a very long time."
The sentence sounded simple.
But coming from Chiyome, it was almost equivalent to a high-level compliment.
A few seconds of comfortable silence passed.
Then Chiyome spoke again, this time much softer.
"Even so…"
She glanced at Kuro from the corner of her eye.
"I am quite certain many people would find your personality very difficult to deal with."
Her tone remained flat.
But the comment clearly carried a subtle, precise observation.
Silence returned once more.
Only a faint wind of the Mirror Dimension moved between the folded structures and distorted scenery in the distance.
Kuro stared forward.
His expression slowly turned slightly more serious.
Not tense, but clearly indicating that he was about to discuss something important.
"Chi-chan," he said finally in a calm tone. "There is something we need to talk about."
Chiyome turned toward him.
That change in tone was enough to fully capture her attention.
Kuro leaned back slightly, supporting himself with both hands.
"I plan to return to my original world soon."
A brief pause.
His gaze remained forward.
"There are matters I need to settle."
He gave no further explanation.
No need.
Chiyome already understood the context.
"Gilgamesh?" she asked briefly.
Kuro smiled faintly.
"Yes."
That simple answer was enough to define the weight of the situation.
"I've delayed the Fifth Holy Grail War conflict for too long," he continued casually, as if talking about a pending task list. "And honestly, I want to resolve it as soon as possible."
He let out a small breath.
"Conflicts left too long tend to become more troublesome."
Chiyome listened in silence.
Her expression remained calm and professional, though there was a subtle change in her eyes—as if processing the information carefully.
Kuro continued.
"My plan is for you to stay in this world."
Chiyome blinked slightly.
She remained silent, but there was a clear hint of surprise.
"As a member of the Hero Association, your position here is already quite stable."
Kuro turned toward her.
"Rank A, good reputation, information access, mobility, and full legal status."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"The foundation we've built is too good to abandon."
His logic was simple.
Pragmatic.
Very typical of Kuro.
"Besides," he continued, "I don't know how long my business in the original world will take."
He paused briefly before adding,
"It could be quick. Or it could take quite a while."
His tone remained light, but there was clear caution behind it.
"So, just in case…"
A small golden ripple opened beside him.
The Gate of Babylon appeared.
From within it, a simple necklace-like Mystic Code with a dark red crystal core slowly floated out. Its surface was engraved with faint magical circuits that pulsed softly.
Kuro took it and extended it toward Chiyome.
"I will give you this Mystic Code."
Chiyome stared at the object intently.
Her gaze was analytical.
"Its function?" she asked.
"Mana supply alternative."
Kuro answered directly.
"As long as you wear it, you can maintain your existence in this world without relying directly on my magical energy supply."
He shrugged lightly.
"Think of it as an external battery with a more elegant energy conversion system."
_____
Author's Note:
Creating something, even a fanfic, is not easy! Please support me! Leave comments, reviews, and some (or all) of your Power Stones! 😎
Hei. Don't ignore meh! Plz notice me senpai~
Sorry for the late update everyone 😅 I fell asleep and forgot.