Please Play Fate/GO With Me

"Ah, sorry. You seemed so suspicious, I completely treated you like an enemy," Shirou said, quickly apologizing once he realized.

"Huh? Suspicious? Master, you think I'm suspicious too?" the man asked, looking dejected as he turned to Gudako.

"Suspicious, yep," Gudako replied honestly.

"Ahhh!!" The man slumped down and knelt on the ground in despair.

"In this day and age, why do you even care about that? You've been suspicious from the start," Da Vinci quipped.

"In any case, my goal is to recover my true name and repair my Spiritron Dress so I can serve you better. Is that okay, Master?" the man, having finally pulled himself together, asked Gudako as he extended his hand.

"I'd be delighted," Gudako said, smiling as she shook his hand.

And so, Shinjuku Archer officially joined the party.

Before the next wave of pursuers could catch up, everyone quickly left Shinjuku Station and returned to their base in the hamburger shop's basement.

"Woof woof." Cavall II greeted his master's return at the entrance.

The man approached with great interest. "Ho ho, what a friendly dog. Good boy, let's shake hands."

The white dog indifferently shook its head away.

"Want some dog food? Here, it's really tasty." The man offered another piece of dog food.

Slam!

The white dog swatted the dog food away with a paw.

"Is this dog looking down on me?!" The man stood up and exclaimed in surprise.

"Woof woof." The white dog glanced at the man with disdain.

"Hmm, it seems the pecking order here has been established," Gudako said, crossing her arms and nodding.

The head of the household was the King, Shirou was in charge of all domestic affairs, Gudako was the one being taken care of, Cavall II was the reliable guard dog who could also be cute, and then there was the suspicious man.

At this moment, Shirou stood up and said to the blonde girl, "I'm going to scout the surrounding area for a bit. I'll leave things here to you, Artoria."

"Is Shirou-senpai going out?" Gudako asked.

"Yes, ever since I arrived here, I've felt a strange aura that's been bothering me. I'm going to investigate," Shirou said.

"Then I'll go with you," Gudako said.

"No, Gudako, you're already very tired. You should rest here. Don't worry, if necessary, I can transform into a Heroic Spirit and fight, or at least escape," Shirou said.

"I understand. Besides, with Shinjuku Archer here, I can't leave. Shirou, your strength seems good, but there are many magi, dolls, and hornet-like creatures here. Be careful," Artoria warned.

"Okay, I'm prepared," Shirou said. He then projected the Cloak, a Noble Phantasm from myth used by Perseus to become invisible and silent, in its Cloak form and put it on.

With the help of his Mystic Eyes, his Projection Magecraft had reached a new level. Even if he wasn't projecting swords, he could still complete it smoothly. Although its functions were different, this Cloak lacked the ability to change form, specializing only in invisibility and silence.

Unless they had particularly sharp senses, most Servants and Demonic Beasts wouldn't be able to detect it. Apart from the restriction that he couldn't use any other Noble Phantasms while using this one, it was a very powerful stealth Noble Phantasm.

Just a few hours ago, Shirou vividly remembered the scene of him shopping with the girls. Now, in a similar place, he felt a pervasive sense of unease.

As one of the busiest districts in an international metropolis, it saw many foreigners, with Chinese people being the most numerous.

At night, all sorts of shady characters emerged. There were agents looking for aspiring actresses for their films, foreign gangsters, and Yakuza. A major purge known as the 'Shinjuku Incident' had even occurred here in the past. While the public order had improved significantly, it still held the nickname 'The Street of Black Temptation.'

It boasted a world-famous commercial street, Kabukicho, known as the 'City That Never Sleeps,' divided into two chōme, meaning two streets.

Kabukicho Itchōme (the first street) housed various restaurants and entertainment venues.

Nichōme (the second street) was more about nightclubs, clubs, and love hotels.

It was like a miniature version of old Shanghai, where fallen Russian nobles mingled with wealthy foreigners who couldn't make it in their concessions, and all sorts of people from the underworld gathered.

There were geishas who sold their artistry, not their bodies, trained from a young age in various arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, specializing in accompanying literati and politicians in their romantic dalliances.

There were also male hosts and hostesses who coaxed customers into buying drinks, followed by love hotels lit with pink and purple neon lights.

As for the nearby Shinjuku Nichōme, aspiring youths were encouraged to visit at night on their own.

But even in a chaotic street, there shouldn't be ghosts, cannibals, and bandits everywhere.

Shirou frowned, looking at the city that had completely fallen into depravity.

Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted ahead, followed by towering flames that engulfed the entire street. These were demonic flames of hatred and rage, and the heatwave they generated felt scorching even through the Cloak.

Shirou once again felt that sense of encountering a nemesis, like Perseus who had invaded the world before, a Heroic Spirit corrupted by black mud.

In a dark alley of the street where the flames erupted, a black silhouette stumbled out, leaning on a flagpole with both hands.

It was a silver-haired girl in black armor. Her beautiful, snow-white face was now haggard and tired. With a stumble, she fell to the ground.

"Damn it! That guy with the bow! He ran off like a jet, spewing flames. Next time... I'll definitely... kill him." The fallen girl cursed in frustration. Having made her last stand, she had completely exhausted her magic and lacked the strength to even walk.

"I can't move at all... Oh well, dying here is better than being burned alive. Should I be dragged to the river and drowned, or stripped naked and tortured to death..." The girl on the ground no longer knew, only laughing mockingly, as if mocking the world, or perhaps herself. Finally, she closed her eyes, as if giving up on everything.

"Um... I won't do that... Hmm, where should I even start with the complaints?" Shirou, who had walked closer, happened to hear the girl's words. With no one around, it was as if she was speaking directly to him, which was quite awkward, and he didn't know how to respond.

Chapter 83: French Disdain and Tsundere

This is the severed demonic realm of Shinjuku, a place destined for destruction. Here, all goodness has ended, leaving only the sins of survival. The Heroic Spirits that can be summoned here are only those with evil attributes. Anything else, even a top-tier Heroic Spirit like the King of Knights, will be rejected by this sinful world.

But even Heroic Spirits defined as evil have their own principles; they are not all villains who seek to destroy the world and revel in battle.

The uncooperative Servant was naturally besieged by the others.

Chased to the brink by a Servant wielding a bow and cloaked in black mud, the girl intended to detonate herself, taking her suicidal attacker with her. But they escaped. Thus, the Servant, drained of mana, ended up in the miserable state of lying on the street.

Shirou sensed the aura of a sworn enemy. The Heroic Spirit, corrupted by the black mud, had tracked them here. He happened to see the flames erupting from the battle and came this way.

He then happened to overhear the silver-haired girl, lying on the ground and despairing, speaking.

"Who are you? Why are you acting so strange? You're human, yet you have a subtle part of a Heroic Spirit about you. Though you're much better than the weird monsters around here," the silver-haired girl asked, frowning as she saw the newcomer looking harmless.

"Well, I am a Master, from Chaldea. As a Servant summoned here, you should have heard of it, right?" Shirou said, retracting his invisibility cloak.

"Chaldea?! Chaldea's Master! Don't think you can fool me just because I'm a country girl! The Master who solved the seven Singularities was a woman, you know! Do you want to get burned?!" Jeanne d'Arc Alter, with silver hair and black armor, looked up and glared, shouting fiercely.

No, even if you say that, a threat made while lying on the ground isn't scary at all.

"I'm a helper called by Chaldea. The Master you're talking about is Gudako, and she's here too," Shirou explained.

"Hmm, you don't look like you're lying. I'll believe you for now."

"Alright, let's get you up first," Shirou said, extending his hand to help the girl up. "Oh, right, I'm Shirou. What's your name?"

"Jeanne..." the silver-haired girl replied.

"Eh? The Saint Jeanne d'Arc? The national hero of France?" Shirou asked in surprise.

The silver-haired girl angrily slapped away the boy's hand and roared, "Absolutely not! I am Jeanne d'Arc Alter, understand! If you confuse me with that annoying Saint again, I'll burn you!"

"Jeanne d'Arc Alter, huh," Shirou nodded thoughtfully. So this girl was like Artoria, an inverted state. Although Jeanne was a saint, there were many legends in enemy countries about her actually being a witch.

"What is it! Is a fake no good?!" the silver-haired girl shouted angrily.

Shirou shook his head and said, "No, actually, I'm often called Faker myself. But I don't think the Noble Phantasms I project lose to the real ones. I know you're a different existence in history. I'll still call you Jeanne then, after all, you're the first Jeanne I've ever met."

"A fake? Heh, that suits you well, Shirou! In that case, I'll specially permit you to call me that." The silver-haired girl smiled happily, but she deliberately raised her eyebrows and glared, making her smile look like the wicked grin of a villain.

If someone didn't know, they'd think she was a major villain planning world destruction. Though she seems genuinely happy, that's fine too.

Although her attitude was still awkward, Shirou felt he had been accepted. He extended his hand to the silver-haired girl again.

"So... can you stand up now?"

"Thank you..." This time, the silver-haired girl surprisingly honestly extended her hand and got up with his help. But she quickly reacted and changed her words, "Hmph! I didn't say anything!"

"Mm... you're welcome," Shirou replied with a smile.

"Are your ears faulty? I said I didn't say thank you!" Jeanne shouted, her gaze shifting away awkwardly, afraid to meet the boy's eyes.

"Yes, yes," Shirou replied with a smile, as if coaxing a child. Her mouth is harsh, but she's surprisingly straightforward.

"Hmph! What are you smiling at!" Jeanne forcefully shook off the boy's hand and cursed, "Stop looking at me! And stop holding my hand! I'll burn you!"

"You're so energetic, it seems you've recovered well," Shirou now had some understanding of this Heroic Spirit girl's personality. If the Japanese tsundere he was familiar with was one thing, this girl was what you'd call French tsundere.

"Hmph! Since you say you're Chaldea's Master, I'll reluctantly let you be my contractor. But listen carefully! From now on, you are not allowed to deceive me, nor betray me! If I find out you're lying, I'll burn you to death immediately," Jeanne d'Arc Alter said with an extremely fierce expression.

"Yes, yes. Let's regroup with everyone first. You need a safe place to recover your mana too," Shirou said, preparing to take the girl back to the hamburger shop's basement.

Mash had found them using Magecraft via a projection.

"Shirou-senpai, you finally found me! Ah! You've already found Miss Jeanne? As expected of you, senpai. As long as it's a woman, you can always find them," Mash said admiringly.

"Mash, that sentence has some ambiguity. What's going on?" Shirou asked, frowning.

"Eh! You're Chaldea's Shielder? Why aren't you here?" Jeanne asked.

"Yes, for some reason, I haven't been able to get here yet," Mash replied.

"Hmm... Without your sturdy defense, I am somewhat uneasy. Oh well, there will be a way," Jeanne said.

"Thank you for the compliment. I didn't expect Miss Jeanne to think so highly of me," Mash said, a little embarrassed.

Jeanne said, "Ah, I know you're the type who will raise her shield and block the front, even if you're crying and trembling, never taking a single step back. That annoying Saint, in the end, doesn't have feelings like fear, so from a human perspective, you're better. Ah, if only you were here, I definitely wouldn't have lost to that black guy with the bow!"

"Um, I'm not there, but Shirou-senpai is here. He's much more reliable than I am, so everything will be fine," Mash said.

"Shirou...?" Jeanne d'Arc Alter glanced at the boy with disdain and continued, "Him? Just don't slow me down."

I really don't know who was the one lying on the ground needing help to stand up earlier... Shirou thought helplessly.

Chapter 84: Franco-British Yuri Wars

"Ah! Shirou-senpai!"

"Hey! Shirou."

Gudako and Artoria walked over.

"As expected of Shirou-senpai! You've already found Jeanne and gotten along well!" Gudako exclaimed in surprise, looking at the boy with admiration. He was truly the one she wanted to entrust her life to.

"Oh, Chaldea's Master Gudako, you've come too. It seems you've saved your own life, Shirou," Jeanne said, confirming the girl's identity. She gave an awkward grin to Shirou beside her.

"Well, thank you for your magnanimity," Shirou replied nonchalantly.

"Shirou, what's with that foolish woman next to you?" Artoria glared with golden eyes, asking somewhat angrily.

"Ah, Artoria, she is also..." Shirou was about to explain when the silver-haired girl interrupted him.

"...I thought it was someone else. Why did you, you annoying cold-blooded woman, follow me too? Didn't we agree not to interfere with each other!" Jeanne stepped forward, blocking Shirou behind her, and shouted angrily.

"Hmph... You're acting like a dog protecting its food, but are you sure you've got the right target? Shirou already formed a contract with me, Master. You're in the way, so get lost!" Artoria declared.

"Master? Shirou! He's my Master! We just formed a contract!" Jeanne d'Arc retorted.

"How shameless! You're just a reckless charging woman who only knows how to rush forward. Acting like a sore loser, are you trying to get my Master to pity you? Stay away from Shirou!" Artoria said, reaching out to pull the boy to her side.

"Hey! Cold-blooded woman! I also formed a contract with Shirou, so why should I listen to you!" Jeanne d'Arc grabbed Shirou's shoulder and refused to let go.

"Artoria, Jeanne d'Arc, please calm down. We're all allies on the same side. Let's get along," Shirou advised.

"Shirou... You want me to get along with her? I've never considered this woman an ally!"

"Shirou, what are you joking about? Getting along with this cold-blooded woman? Look at that Holy Sword, it's turned black, but it's still a Holy Sword. The taste is utterly disgusting. I'm already at my limit just enduring this."

"How crude and rude of you, French village girl!"

"Is the British nouveau riche king so amazing?"

"Hoh!"

"Ha!"

Artoria and Jeanne d'Arc glared at each other, sparks seemingly flying between them.

"If this weren't this kind of world, but a normal Holy Grail War, you'd be the first one I'd cut down," Artoria Alter said with a cold laugh, raising her Holy Sword.

"What a coincidence. I was thinking the same thing. If you want to fight, why pick a place? I'll kill you right now," Jeanne d'Arc Alter grinned wickedly, raising her flag spear.

The two girls drew their weapons and clashed, sword light and spear shadows constantly colliding in the air, kicking up sparks.

The golden-haired girl, the King who symbolized victory, wielded her Holy Sword, employing battle-hardened swordsmanship.

The silver-haired girl, who had led France to victory in numerous outnumbered defensive battles, retaken cities, and never once been wounded on the battlefield, possessed fortress-like defensive combat skills.