Chapter 558

The feeling was like being targeted by a snake.

... Can't move?

When she came to her senses, Rin Tohsaka found herself unable to move an inch.

"... This barrier, you created it, didn't you?"

"Trying to buy time through conversation to break the spell... Give up, these eyes are not something you can undo."

The woman spoke casually as she jumped off the water tower.

Her landing was not only graceful, but also completely silent... truly like a snake.

"Who... are you?" Rin Tohsaka asked in a deep voice.

It had nothing to do with Magecraft or anything like that; fear froze her spine.

The demonic aura emanating from the woman before him reminded Rin Tohsaka of the Dead Apostle Ancestor she had faced in the past.

"That's what I want to ask... Who are you?"

The woman was half a head taller than Rin Tohsaka, and she looked down at the girl, pinching her chin.

"Magecraft, are you my master?"

"Master...? Are you a servant!?"

Rin Tohsaka was taken aback.

Why would a servant appear at a school?

Has the Holy Grail War begun?

No, there's already a precedent of Tiamat appearing outside of the Holy Grail War... So, is she looking for someone?

The woman—Rider, Medusa observed Rin's reaction, then quietly shook her head.

"It seems you're not my master..."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Medusa's eyes.

She was initially pleased to find the Magecraft within the detection barrier, but judging from Rin Tohsaka's attitude, she realized that the magician wasn't the one she was looking for.

You're useless now.

"Useless?"

Upon hearing this, Rin Tohsaka's lips curled into a sneer, and she said, "Are you planning to kill me?"

"Kill you?"

Medusa frowned slightly, not understanding why she would say that.

Medusa raised her hand, preparing to make Rin Tohsaka forget what she had seen that night, when—

"Wait! No! Don't hurt her, Rider!!"

A third party's voice intruded.

That sound dispelled the chill that had enveloped Rin Tohsaka.

"... cherry?"

"... Don't come any closer! It's dangerous here, Sakura!"

Medusa and Rin Tohsaka reacted simultaneously, with Rin excitedly shouting to her younger sister who was running towards them.

No matter what happens, Sakura must not be involved in any danger—this is Rin Tohsaka's most steadfast belief.

She struggled to break free from the Mystic Eyes's binding effect.

Medusa had not yet unleashed her true "Mystic Eyes of Petrification," but had only controlled the other party with her gaze, which gave Rin Tohsaka an opportunity to break free.

Rin Tohsaka took out a jewel from her bosom, just in case.

Sensing clear hostility, Rider instinctively tightened his grip on the chain sword that appeared in the void.

"Tsk!"

Rin Tohsaka launches a gem at point-blank range.

Even if the opponent is Servant, this can still cause some damage.

"..."

Medusa's chains pierced the girl's wrist.

No matter how much a modern Magecraft strengthens their body or builds defenses, it's meaningless in the face of her attacks.

It happened in an instant.

Like a whirlwind, she intervened in their deadly battle in the blink of an eye.

The gem that Rin Tohsaka fired was deflected and turned into fireworks in mid-air.

Medusa's dagger was steadily blocked before it could pierce the girl.

Standing between the two was a boy with red hair.

"Amamiya... classmate?"

"Senior...?"

Rin Tohsaka and Sakura Matou spoke at the same time.

Time became eternal in that instant.

The moonlight outlined his long, slender silhouette, symbolizing his red hair swaying in the surge of magic.

Even in the darkness of night, those twilight-colored eyes shone brightly.

Although it was clear that the timing was not right--

But the refined figure of the young man under the starry sky still captivated the two sisters.

They will probably never forget what happened tonight.

"Senior... Tohsaka- senpai!"

Sakura Matou ran up to Shirou and Rin, panting.

The girl held her knees with both hands, her chest, far larger than that of a middle school student, heaving.

"Um... this is actually a misunderstanding, Miss Rider isn't..."

As Sakura Matou explained, she looked up at Medusa.

But she found herself staring intently at Shirou's face.

"Well..."

Sakura Matou's heart skipped a beat.

She suddenly had a bad feeling, a woman's Instinct.

Volume 8: Chapter 354 Tia's Bedtime?

They returned home with Rin Tohsaka and Sakura Matou.

They prepared and ate dinner as if nothing had happened.

After washing the dishes and seeing Taiga Fujimura off,

"Then, please answer all my questions, Sakura."

"Y-yes... Tohsaka- senpai."

In the Amamiya Residence Living Room, Sakura Matou knelt tremblingly, with the mysterious and beautiful Rider of unknown origin behind her.

Rin Tohsaka stood menacingly in front of Sakura Matou, arms crossed, with Shirou on her left and Tiamat, who had been de-spiritued, on her right.

The Einzbern family went to stay at their castle in the forest tonight and won't be back until the weekend.

"Hey, Tohsaka... you don't have to be so harsh, do you?"

Shirou tried to speak up for Sakura, but Rin glared at him fiercely.

"This kid is actually trying to set up a barrier in a school full of ordinary people?"

Normally, it wouldn't be surprising if she were immediately identified as Black Magician; the fact that she was willing to sit down and listen to her is already more than enough.

Sakura whispered, "Um, I've checked it repeatedly. The barrier won't put any pressure on ordinary people..."

"That's not the issue, understand?"

"Ah, yes..."

Rin slashed Sakura's explanation with a single stroke.

"What exactly was your purpose in setting up that kind of barrier at the school? And who is the woman behind you, Rider?"

The one who set up the detection barrier in the Hohyunohara Academy was none other than Sakura Matou.

Rin Tohsaka finally understood why Shirou to investigate the barrier with her that morning.

He probably knew back then that Sakura had created the barrier.

Although he himself couldn't, Shirou could immediately sense that the prisoner was very unhappy.

What's even more frustrating is that Shirou actually protected Sakura in this matter of right and wrong.

"Amamiya- san, I'd like to talk to you privately after the interrogation here is over."

"Why..."

Shirou's expression was complicated.

Rin suddenly leaned forward with great energy, gazing intently at Sakura.

"Could you please answer my question?"

"... Yes, yes, Tohsaka- senpai!"

Although Shirou was already used to it, Sakura was quite frightened when she saw Rin's murderous intent for the first time.

"I set up the barrier... to help Miss Rider find someone."

"Looking for someone? Oh, right, speaking of which..."

Rin Tohsaka thought about how she said strange things when she was attacked by Rider.

Are you my master?

"It seems you're not my master..."

In other words, is the Rider, who is a Servant, searching for their Master?

Please explain the situation in more detail.

Sakura Matou nodded and began her explanation.

She first explained to Shirou and Rin how she met Rider.

"Found it in an alley after school?"

Rin Tohsaka was completely dumbfounded, but Sakura Matou nodded seriously in confirmation.

Shirou said, "No, this is way too much. You can't just pick up Servant... Why are you staring at me?"

"Seeing Amamiya -san's face, I feel like this kind of thing isn't impossible after all."

Why?

Because of Shirou's past experiences, Rin accepted Sakura's explanation.

Sakura Matou continued, "Miss Rider has lost her memory; she can't remember her name or her identity."

"Huh?" Rin Tohsaka let out a strange cry.

Shirou analyzed, "I think it's because it wasn't a proper summoning, so the memories are very confused."

Rider, do you really remember nothing?

Shirou turned to the long-haired woman behind Sakura, who nodded expressionlessly.

"I know who I am and what my purpose is, but my name and past are very vague; I can't remember them at all."