The Shirou Who Returned from the Fae Kingdom

"I'll settle the score with you properly when I get back."

"...Uwee!!!"

The Female Magus's shrill scream echoed through the boy's mind.

"It's about time we prepared for battle. That monster is heading toward the city."

Those words were directed at both Lady Avalon and Saber.

Artoria nodded resolutely. "Understood, Shirou. Let's attack together."

Shirou drew Excalibur Morgan, simultaneously feeling Lady Avalon's magical power flow into his body through the channel connecting them.

The battle just now, along with the Humble hammer, had exhausted Shirou's magical energy. From here on, he would have to rely on Lady Avalon's supply.

This was the battle plan they had discussed beforehand. During the fight, they would temporarily switch to a system where Avalon supplied the magical energy.

Shirou put his skull mask back on and glanced at the black-and-red Command Spell on the back of his hand. An idea took shape in his mind.

Just then, a new voice rang out.

"King of Knights, did something good happen tonight? You're wearing such a relieved expression that I'm almost jealous."

"Lancer!"

A dashing dark-green figure appeared in the fog-shrouded forest.

When they saw the handsome man holding two spears, Saber and Irisviel both looked utterly astonished.

"Why are you..."

Lancer smiled. "Are you about to say that Diarmuid should have died beneath your holy sword two nights ago?

"If you entertain such a shallow notion, then I will be disappointed in the legendary King of Knights."

Saber shook her head. "No..."

Lancer's body brimmed with magical energy as he spoke with a relaxed expression. "I'm not so easily defeated.

"I now have a Lord worth serving. With the help of Lord El-Melloi, I returned from the brink of death."

Though Saber did not show much on the surface, she was deeply shocked inside.

Lancer had indeed avoided the fatal wound with "Mind's Eye" at the time, but an injury like that could never have completely recovered after only a day and a night.

Of course, Lancer noticed Saber's reaction as well.

Holding his spear in his left hand, he pointed its tip directly at the golden-haired knight and spoke.

"What supported me through this was my resolve to cross blades with you again, King of Knights.

"I will not fall until I have fought you once more and brought our contest to a complete end.

"However, let us temporarily cease hostilities for now. There is still an evil enemy here that must be vanquished, one that runs counter to the chivalry of us knights."

"!"

Hearing this, Artoria nodded in agreement. "Understood. I am always willing to fight you again, Lancer—

"but only after we deal with that monster. Until then, let us fight side by side."

Wow! It's Diarmuid! We're saved!

Irisviel happily watched the newly arrived reinforcement, while the King of Knights was filled with conflicting emotions.

In this summoning, she had gained not only the best Master, Irisviel, and the best companion, Shirou, but also the best opponent.

There was nothing more she could ask for. Perhaps she was the one favored by heaven. All that remained was to fight with everything she had.

But.

Just as Saber was filled with fighting spirit and her Master rejoiced at the arrival of the new ally—

only Shirou watched the spearman's figure with a slight frown.

"Master, something's wrong with Lancer."

"Yeah. I know."

That day, Shirou had secretly infiltrated the Hyatt Hotel and happened to witness the entire process of Lancer abandoning his chivalry under the Command Spell's influence and transforming into an evil spirit under the wish-granting machine's effect.

The foul aura radiating from Diarmuid at that time was worlds apart from the disgustingly handsome man before them now.

Had Lancer returned to his original state afterward?

Impossible. Shirou did not believe in such fairy tales.

"Saber, who is this?"

Lancer had noticed the boy in Hassān's clothing staring intently at him.

Lady Avalon's cognitive interference magecraft was working perfectly, so he could not see anything unusual.

"Ah, he's..."

Shirou cut in before her. "Who I am isn't important. What matters is dealing with the enemy in front of us first."

With a single sentence, he made it clear that he was not some child who had merely been caught up in the incident, but a combatant—and that he had no intention of revealing too much information.

Lancer froze for a moment, then walked over to Shirou and extended his hand.

"Please take care of me."

Shirou did not return the handshake. He merely nodded.

Lancer was not embarrassed by the cold reception. He only shrugged helplessly.

"All right, then let's get to the point. Could you briefly explain the situation to me?"

Saber explained the situation to Lancer.

When the handsome man heard that Caster had already been defeated by Saber and the boy in Black Robe, his brows twitched almost imperceptibly.

"I see. I understand the situation now. So, have you come up with any plan for defeating that monster?"

Lancer gazed at the dark-green figure writhing in the night fog and asked.

Saber answered, "Before you arrived, we already fought its copies, so we understand the otherworldly monster's habits quite well.

"If my deduction is correct, this monster, as the main body, should possess a terrifying regenerative ability.

"Unless we inflict a fatal blow, it will continuously grow new limbs. Even if it is injured, it will recover in the next instant."

She paused.

"If we want to defeat this monster, we have to destroy it completely in a single instant, without leaving even a scrap of flesh behind.

"My Anti-City Noble Phantasm can destroy that monster with one strike."

"...Anti-City Noble Phantasm."

Lancer narrowed his eyes.

This was unexpected information.

Saber actually had an Anti-City Noble Phantasm hidden away?

No. If the flash of the holy sword that had defeated him before had been classified as an Anti-City Noble Phantasm upon True Name Release, then it was not strange at all.

"Although my Noble Phantasm is powerful enough to destroy this monster, I still need your assistance.

"It is moving toward an area where residents are gathered. We must lure it away from there first."

"I see. I understand what you mean, Saber."

Lancer nodded coldly. "Leave luring the Sea Monster to me. You will deliver the fatal blow."

Saber nodded, then asked in confusion, "What are you planning to do?"

Even if Diarmuid was an unparalleled warrior, surely he had no way to deal with a monster several dozen meters tall.

"...As for that."

Lancer smiled. "Please watch closely with those eyes of yours, King of Knights.

"I'll go over first. Wait here for my signal, then release your Noble Phantasm."

After saying this, Lancer turned toward Irisviel and extended his hand.

"Although this is only a temporary joint operation, I still hope we can work well together, Master of Saber."

"Yes. Thank you very much for your assistance, Lancer."

Irisviel nodded solemnly, then took the handsome man's hand—

at that very moment, a deep-red demonic sword appeared in Diarmuid's right palm.

The scene happened so suddenly that no one, including Saber, could react. Even her "Instinct" was not omnipotent.

"...Huh?"

Irisviel stared blankly as the crimson demonic sword thrust toward her heart.

The demonic sword was called "Mor-alltach."

If one had to choose the mightiest among the many weapons wielded by Diarmuid O'Dyna, this demonic sword was unquestionably the strongest.

Bestowed by Manannán, the Celtic sea god, upon Diarmuid's foster father, this demonic sword was said to be capable of killing everyone on a battlefield who opposed its wielder with a single swing.

"One strike, certain death; first strike, certain victory."

Once drawn, the demonic sword would grant Diarmuid certain victory and bestow certain death upon his enemy—Irisviel—

"Skrreee!!!!"

Blood gushed forth like flowers blooming in the night fog, staining the ground red.

"Irisviel!"

Saber shouted in panic, but—

the blood did not come from Irisviel. It came from Lancer, who had launched the ambush.

"Hey, kid... Just when did you realize...?"

The handsome man staggered back several steps, glaring ferociously at the boy standing between him and Saber's Master.

Just as Lancer was about to succeed and the red demonic sword was about to pierce Irisviel's heart, Shirou suddenly rushed between them and slashed him.

This was Shirou's specialty—launching a sudden attack at the moment an enemy was feeling most triumphant.

It had been the same during his swordsmanship duel with Sister Fujiwara, the same when he had cut Caster's hand, and the same now.

Although this was indeed an effective battle tactic, it was impossible to say that it contained no trace of a bad personality.

"I thought I could cut you in half just now. Was it 'Mind's Eye' again...? What a troublesome skill."

Shirou, who also possessed "Mind's Eye (True)," remained expressionless. Too shallow...

In truth, this was merely a bluff. He did not believe that Diarmuid could be killed by an attack of that level.

"Lancer! What is the meaning of this? Why did you attack Irisviel?"

Saber gripped her sword with both hands and assumed a fighting stance as she demanded an answer.

"Hm?"

Lancer tilted his head and glanced at Saber contemptuously.

"Why? Naturally, it's so that this eyesore of a woman will disappear. Killing the Master is the most effective method, isn't it?"

"What—"

Saber was dumbfounded.

She could not imagine those words coming from the mouth of that noble Knight of the Spear.

Wait, is he really Lancer?

Just then, a black-and-green boar hide radiating intense demonic energy appeared in the handsome man's hand.

"Lancer, that is...!"

Lancer revealed a feral grin.

It was common knowledge that Diarmuid had died while hunting a demonic boar during his lifetime.

However, it had not been the demonic boar that truly killed him.