"I have no idea what nonsense you're talking about!" After hearing Caster's heartfelt confession, Saber merely showed a fleeting look of confusion before raising her invisible sword before her and declaring to the intruder, "If you have come to challenge me, then I accept in my capacity as the Saber-class Servant!"
"What? You don't remember me?" Caster's bulging eyes protruded even farther, and the sorrow of their owner could be seen in those glassy pupils.
"You have mistaken me for someone else. I have never met you." The wounded expression on the other's face did not seem fake, but Saber had no time to concern herself with that. Her response was straightforward.
"Ah~♂~ah~ As expected, the gods' arrangements must contain malice! Though the Saint has appeared before me once more, her memories have been stripped away! She has forgotten her beauty, forgotten her comrades-in-arms—is this your script?"
Completely disregarding the Servant standing ready before him, Caster turned around, looked up at the sky, and furiously shook his fist at some unknown being. Fortunately, both Saber and Irisviel possessed morals far above average. If Kiritsugu had been here, he would certainly have ordered Saber to kill her opponent while he was wide open.
"I never thought a Servant who wasn't Berserker-class could be insane too. Airi, what should we do?"
"This... if Saber has no objections, then let us meet him here."
The battlefield was their home ground, and their opponent was Caster, whom Saber countered. Thus, after only a brief consideration, Irisviel gave the order to engage head-on.
"How could I possibly have any objections? But, Airi..."
"I know. There were clearly two presences before, but I cannot sense them now. They must have left, but still be careful, Saber!"
"Leave it to me, Airi. Witness the strength of your knight!"
Meanwhile, Caster seemed to have made some sort of decision during his muttering. "Saint, I will definitely make you remember! Please forgive my present disrespect!"
A tentacle lashed toward Saber. The invisible sword easily cleaved it in two, and what Saber then saw was an astonishingly large army of monsters—
"Hmph. A rabble."
Then a streak of blue lightning charged into their midst.
"Saber appeared to be a blonde girl. She wielded an invisible sword. Judging from her manner of speech and fighting style, she had likely been a medieval European knight in life, and certainly not an obscure one. Her attributes were around A in every category."
"Caster has still displayed only the ability to summon Sea Demons. Though they are merely low-level monsters, their numbers are astonishing. Mana on that scale alone warrants serious attention."
"Other than the Servants, only the Einzbern homunculus and a maid were present. The Magus Killer did not appear."
In the basement, lit only by dim magical lamps, Tokiomi Tohsaka frowned as he listened to his disciple's report.
"How did Saber compare with Lancer and Berserker?"
"If we speak solely of strength, she was no match for Berserker. Their skill was roughly equal. As for Lancer, without taking into account the special bonuses of Noble Phantasms, Saber should be stronger."
"Can you infer anything else regarding Saber's identity?"
"Her armor bore a distinct British style. Though her sword could not be seen, her techniques suggested a double-edged heavy cavalry sword. Such swords were highly popular before sabers became widespread, so we can roughly infer that she lived in the fifth or sixth century AD, perhaps even earlier. And in that era, when it comes to knights—"
Kirei's voice halted there, so Tokiomi finished for him.
"The Arthurian Legend? The Fenian Cycle? Or the Ulster Cycle?"
"Yes. However, among them, there seem to be no famous and highly skilled women who match Saber's description, such as Scáthach or Macha."
"That is fine. Obtaining this information is already enough. Your powers of deduction greatly impress me."
Tokiomi casually praised Kirei, but unexpectedly, Kirei shook his head.
"This was not my deduction. Everything above was Assassin's analysis."
"Oh?" A rare look of surprise appeared on Tokiomi's face, and then he nodded thoughtfully.
"Once the outcome between Caster and Saber is confirmed, have her return. Tell her to be careful during the next operation. After all, she is an important asset to our side."
"It is already over. Caster used a familiar double to evade Saber's fatal strike, then left."
"Then that will be all for today, Kirei. Rest early."
"As you command, my master."
-----------------Rest♂ Early-----------------
Kirei Kotomine did not rest as his master had instructed. After confirming that no one had discovered his movements, he took off in a light jog toward the Fuyuki Hyatt Hotel, arms held close to his sides. According to Assassin's report, Kiritsugu Emiya had spent a long time there earlier. Combined with the fact that Kayneth, Lancer's Master, was also staying there, and that Kayneth had been gravely injured tonight but his death had not yet been confirmed, Kirei was certain that a performance would unfold there tonight.
He did not know why he wanted to be an audience member—or rather, he did not know what he could gain from that performance. Still, if he could observe and understand Kiritsugu Emiya more deeply, he should be able to gain something from him.
To act for an uncertain goal... I had become somewhat strange myself. Could this also be the Holy Grail's influence?
Besides gaining some self-awareness about his inexplicable obsession with Kiritsugu Emiya, Kirei lamented this way because of his Servant.
An ancient hero summoned into the modern world through the power of the Holy Grail—such a figure surely possessed something extraordinary. Although that Assassin behaved like the embodiment of bad taste, sharp-eyed Kirei had discovered that even when facing someone for the first time, she could always adopt the most appropriate attitude.
The elegant etiquette that earned Tokiomi's appreciation, the interaction and care that made Rin lower her mask, the submission that made the King of Heroes temporarily tolerate her—all of it convinced Kirei that Assassin possessed exceptional insight into people. Yet when such an Assassin was with him, she had repeatedly, if inadvertently, displayed wariness and even fear.
Kirei asked himself whether he had ever done anything sufficient to frighten a hero. He had not. Therefore, what Assassin feared could only be Kirei Kotomine himself—in other words, Assassin at least knew Kirei Kotomine's true nature and knew what kind of person he was.
The unknown bred fear, because one did not know what would happen.
The known bred fear, because one knew too well what would happen.
Where did Assassin's fear come from?
For that very reason, Kirei retained a certain degree of curiosity toward his Servant and adopted a tolerant attitude toward some of her behavior. For example, for a period before the battle at Fuyuki Port, contact with Assassin had been completely severed. Even as her Master, he did not know where she was or what she was doing.
For example, after Kayneth had been sniped by Kiritsugu Emiya, when Kirei wanted to contact Assassin for firsthand intelligence, Assassin had only responded after a delay of roughly five or six seconds—what could a Servant do in five or six seconds?
Yet afterward, Kirei neither reported it to Tokiomi nor questioned her about it.
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For another example, why had Assassin drawn Caster into pursuing her? Judging from Caster's subsequent behavior at Einzbern Castle, his obsession was with the existence he called the "Saint"—the famous Joan of Arc. Although doubts remained concerning Assassin's identity, she was certainly not France's savior. In other words, Assassin had known Caster's obsession the instant she saw him.
This once again confirmed Kirei's earlier inference.
There was also Assassin's deduction of Saber's identity and much else besides. Many of Assassin's actions displayed her importance and capabilities before Tokiomi. She seemed faintly inclined to distance herself from Kirei, and Kirei pretended not to notice, even helping matters along.
Interest? I actually possessed something like that. Then my earlier feeling was correct. In this Holy Grail War, I could find what I had been seeking.
His movements remained perfectly standard as he jogged, elbows never exposed in front and hands never visible behind, but an arc passed across the priest's lips without even he himself noticing it.
"The hotel! The hotel's collapsing!"
The crowd's panicked cries sounded faint yet piercing amid the roar of reinforced concrete breaking apart.
Kiritsugu Emiya stood with his back to the collapsing building, smoking a cigarette. It was an extremely conspicuous sight, but no one noticed him at this moment.
As he walked slowly, the Magus Killer switched on his radio and asked his assistant:
"Mai—"
"Run!"
Before his brain could react, his body instinctively performed an evasive maneuver. Only after rolling forward some distance did Kiritsugu turn back and see a puddle of silvery mercury where he had been standing moments ago.
Having failed to catch its target, the mercury spread in all directions to avoid attracting attention, seeping into the asphalt.
There was no need to confirm Kayneth's condition with Maiya anymore. The target had not only survived, but had also discovered him and launched a counterattack.
From the corner of his eye, Kiritsugu saw a silver-gray fluid seemingly coating the metal railings on windows, fire escapes, and other structures along both sides of the street, gradually drawing closer to him. Without further hesitation, he swiftly activated Time Alter and fled at maximum speed.
"Maiya, the operation has failed. Withdraw!"
Why Kayneth had escaped the explosion despite being gravely wounded, and how he had pinpointed Kiritsugu so precisely—those questions could wait until they were safe.
"Why did you not ask Kiritsugu Emiya for help?"
On the thirty-eighth floor of the unfinished Fuyuki Central Building, Kirei Kotomine held a Black Key to the neck of the restrained woman and asked in a flat tone that did not sound like interrogation.
"..."
Maiya had already been defeated when Kiritsugu Emiya's retreat order came through. Yet she had not called for help. Instead, she had merely said, "Understood," before hanging up.
"I am not the type skilled at interrogation. Generally speaking, if I cannot obtain information directly, I dispose of the person."
"..."
"This is not an unanswerable question, is it? Why did you not ask Kiritsugu Emiya for help?"
"..."
"Is this also a secret? The sort worth guarding with your life?"
"..."
The woman's gaze was resolute. It seemed impossible to get any response from her.
"Then—"
"Master," a voice in Kirei Kotomine's mind interrupted his final attempt, "though I know speaking up at a time like this is rather ruining the mood, the situation is urgent—Lancer is heading your way. You can still leave now."
"..."
Kirei, having once served as an Executor, was naturally no weak fighter. But Maiya, who had followed the Magus Killer through countless battles, was no simple opponent either. There had been some commotion while subduing her, so it was hardly strange that a Servant's superhuman senses had detected some clues.
Kirei put away the Black Key. Without sparing another glance for Maiya, who could not move due to her injuries, he turned and left.
-------------------Notes and Such---------------
1. Diarmuid came from here.
2. Doggo—no, Cú Chulainn came from here.
3. Scáthach was Doggo... Cú Chulainn's teacher. Just his teacher, not also his aunt. Macha was an ultra-tough woman who could race warhorses while pregnant and still win, then immediately gave birth after winning.
4. In fact, Jizi had known who the other party was before even meeting him. But "dimension travel" was too unscientific for Mapo Tofu Priest to deduce.
----------------------Behind the Scenes---------------------
Mapo Tofu Priest: You did that on purpose, didn't you?! You interrupted me right where we could have made a doujin!
Jizi: Did you want to play "Holy Grail No. Misery"?
Mapo Tofu Priest: I only wanted to prove that my orientation is normal.
Jizi: There is nothing abnormal about being gay, you know~
Mapo Tofu Priest: ...Let's do "Assassin No. Misery" first. I happen to have two Command Spells left, enough for an upper and lower volume.
Jizi: Holy crap! I am not Wang Yuanji, so why would it need upper and lower volumes?—No, that is not the point! Author, have some integrity!
Author: Nothing that happens behind the scenes will actually happen, so do not mind it...
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