Type-Moon's Problem Child from Collapse Chapter 40

"Class Monitor, did we know each other before?"

Holding a long sword, Fu Yuan followed the Class Monitor through their usual daily sparring practice.

After they finished, Fu Yuan hesitated for a long time before finally asking the question that had troubled him for so long.

"...We did."

A little surprised, Fu Hua wondered if Xiao Yuan had not forgotten. No, it was probably just an impression! But...

"Eh! We really did know each other? Then I, I used to..."

Although Fu Yuan had asked others before and had even been deceived once, anything concerning his past still clearly made him nervous.

"You were my child groom. Even your surname came from mine."

For some reason, Fu Hua suddenly spoke with a slightly serious expression.

"Look, my name is Fu Hua, and yours is Fu Yuan."

"...Oh..."

Fu Yuan's previously surprised expression suddenly calmed. A woman attached to him had said the same thing before.

And he had caught her lying! As for now, he was used to it. After all, he could not just believe anyone who happened to share his surname!

Sure enough, Durandal was right. That person Otto sent must be up to no good!

"This is the end."

Fu Yuan looked at the sky, now completely dark, and even his usually cheerful face carried a trace of heaviness.

"...Are you ready?"

Kiritsugu Emiya was clearly taken aback, though it was unclear whether it was for Fu Yuan, who was about to leave, or for the Holy Grail that was nearly within his grasp.

"Of course."

After hearing that, Fu Yuan seemed to return to his usual self. He was Schicksal's strongest, after all.

Somehow, Little Illya and Sakura had gotten wind of the news. They clung tightly to Fu Yuan, refusing to let go.

Irisviel did nothing. She knew there was nothing she could do, so she merely leaned quietly against the doorway and watched them.

"Big Brother, you have to keep your promise!"

After much coaxing, Fu Yuan finally got the two little ones to release him, though he had not exactly told them the truth.

"Of course."

"Then pinky promise."

Though the two had temporarily been coaxed into believing him, their eyes were still brimming with tears.

"...All right, pinky promise."

Beneath the cover of night, four little hands linked together, while two childish voices echoed through the night sky.

"Pinky promise, hook and seal, never change for a hundred years."

Fu Yuan said nothing. This sort of thing... was not his first time.

Yet for some reason, his nose suddenly stung, and he suddenly wanted to cry.

Sure enough, children were angels!

Even though they had only spent a few short days together, even though some unpleasant things had happened, angels would not change over something so minor, would they?

"A Yuan, if you can... stay alive, okay?"

Watching their departing backs, Irisviel still said something... foolish.

Fu Yuan did not turn back. He merely waved his hand.

Stay alive!

That depends on whether They are willing!

They could accept Fu Yuan's existence, but what They would rather accept was his form as a Heroic Spirit—the kind that returned to the Hall of Heroes after death.

Collapse + Third Magic = the ability to destroy the world at any time.

How could They possibly agree?

Still, perhaps those fools would not want to test An-Utu's power.

But even if I survive, where could I go?

Irisviel and the others... this place is not home, in the end.

...I'll leave it to fate!

Unable to figure out how to live, who was more carefree than whom? Ten thousand household lights, yet not one lamp was left for me—"Lost"

"To think they put this King last. They certainly know their place."

Gilgamesh sat alone on the rooftop, perched upon an exceptionally luxurious chair. He wore clothing that exposed everything except his intimate areas and their immediate surroundings, giving him a distinctly sensual appearance.

He felt no fear toward the coming battle—or rather, a King did not feel fear.

Even knowing his chances of victory were slim, as a son of Uruk, he had never feared a struggle.

A bottle of fine wine emerged from the golden ripples in the air, fittingly enough. No longer did he savor it cup by cup as before; instead, he drank deeply and boldly straight from the bottle.

The crimson liquid flowed from the corner of his mouth down to his chest, lending him a touch of alluring charm.

Unfortunately, Tokiomi Tohsaka had no intention of looking up right now, though even if he did, he would not have seen anything.

He was anxious. Yesterday, his Disciple had informed him that Saber had killed every Assassin by some unknown means.

And through his own channels, he had learned that Kaineth and Waver had left Fuyuki. In other words, aside from Caster, who was already suspected to be dead, only he remained!

Yet Kirei had not seen the method Saber used to kill Assassin at all.

Thinking of Saber and his bizarre methods, as well as Kariya Matou's Berserker, Tokiomi Tohsaka began to panic.

"Hmph!"

Gilgamesh found the fellow below increasingly displeasing. As a King's retainer, he had no bearing at all.

"Why is the atmosphere so heavy? Is something wrong?"

Fu Yuan strode quickly ahead of the others, then turned around, unable to stand the mood any longer.

"..."

"True... I wonder if I'll ever see you again in this life."

Kariya Matou was not expressionless like Kiritsugu Emiya. Perhaps he had come to terms with things, or perhaps for some other reason, but he joined Fu Yuan in joking around.

"Hehe! If you don't get yourself killed, then probably."

"Then it's a deal."

Then, while Fu Yuan stared at him in utter bewilderment, Kariya Matou plucked a hair from his head.

"What are you doing?!"

Fu Yuan felt that he was deliberately getting back at him, and he had ample evidence to prove it.

"Preparing for my granddaughter."

Logically speaking, even if Kariya Matou did not get himself killed, he would not live to sixty. But who could say for sure what reality would bring?

But you lolicon! Married-woman fetishist! Are you already certain you'll have a granddaughter?!

"Wait, can you even find a girlfriend?"

Fu Yuan suddenly began scrutinizing Kariya Matou with a suspicious gaze. Though he was rich, and the Matou Family was rich as well.

Could he really forget Aoi?

Kariya Matou did not know what Fu Yuan was thinking, but hearing that still felt like an arrow through his heart, leaving him somewhat depressed.

But why should he be the only one suffering?

"You're still a virgin, aren't you, Saber?!"

"!!!"

"How can you insult me?!"

Fu Yuan felt that his dignity had been insulted. The enemy's words were utterly vile, a level of shamelessness he had never seen before! No martial virtue at all!

"Is it that I can't find one?! I-I just don't want to find one, that's right, I don't want one, understand?!"

"Is it that I can't find one?! I-I'm just afraid of breaking other girls' hearts! Do you understand?!"

At that moment, Fu Yuan was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, desperately denying it.

As for Kiritsugu Emiya, the two of them had vaguely excluded him, never drawing him into their exchange.

"Sigh! Being single is actually pretty nice!"

Kiritsugu Emiya helplessly glanced at Lancelot. After thinking it over, he ultimately decided to join the fray.

"Shut up!" ×2

The two, who had clearly been trading barbs just moments ago, spoke in perfect unison. What did this have to do with you? This was a matter between grown boys!

Kiritsugu Emiya helplessly waved a hand, indicating that he was... very happy.

Still, the atmosphere had indeed become much livelier.

But after spotting Archer sitting on a rooftop from far down the street, the mood visibly froze again.

As though to match the atmosphere, the wind began to blow. Unlike Fu Yuan's case, however, there were no traces of magical energy present.

"Trash! Do you not even have the courage to step forward?!"

Fu Yuan helplessly pressed down his hair, looking at the figure seated above with a hint of admiration.

"You really are as arrogant as ever!"

Tokiomi Tohsaka activated the prepared Magic Circle the moment he discovered them. Though it might not be very effective, it was still something.

Such was the sorrow of the weak in the extraordinary realm: even their all-out efforts might not compare to someone else's casual strike.

"Arrogant? The entire world belongs to me. Why shouldn't I be arrogant?"

Even though he was at a disadvantage, Gilgamesh remained as confident as ever, as though he were merely discussing something insignificant.

"Well! That ends the conversation..."

Fu Yuan had originally wanted to offer a friendly greeting, but Gilgamesh was Gilgamesh after all. There was no way to continue this conversation.

"Traveler from another world, have you considered what I said?"

As overbearing as ever—so overbearing that one could overlook that beautiful face.

"Hey, hey! At this rate, you'll definitely never find a girl... m2p!"

Fu Yuan suddenly remembered Gilgamesh's relationships with women in that era. The number of people he had slept with might have exceeded the number of people Fu Yuan knew! (People he knew, not people he had merely met!)

And he even had the oldest rb... pfft! A God-Made Weapon—he could play with whatever kind he wanted!

"I possess every treasure in the world. Is marrying me really so difficult?"

Gilgamesh's attitude grew ever more arrogant, as though Fu Yuan and the others were the ones at a disadvantage.

What Fu Yuan hated most were people who acted all high and mighty.

So he decided to properly crush this blondie's arrogance.

"You'll die from overwork!"