Chapter 603
While her burqa was indeed in the style of Middle Eastern Assassin Order, the symbolic skull mask—
Each Hassan would peel off their face and sew on a skull mask, as proof that they erased their personal existence and became "the Old Man of the Mountain."
But the girl wasn't wearing a mask, and there were no similar markings visible on her body.
What's going on? Isn't she one of the successive Hassan al-Sabahs?
The assassin girl, standing like a ghost in the dark corridor, stared at Shirou, then spoke quietly.
Stop there, then leave quickly.
"...?"
Shirou tilted his head, looking utterly puzzled.
"I'm telling you, you must have seen it before, right? The scene of me fighting Gil."
After witnessing that battle, you still dare to speak to me in that tone?
Don't you think you're the one who should obediently back down, assassin?
Shirou's overly blatant intimidation as he passed by did not frighten the girl; the hostility emanating from her remained very strong.
"Get out of here quickly..."
Assassin repeated his words, but by the time he realized what he meant, it was too late.
Shirou closed in on her and swung the back of his hand.
"Bang------!!"
A loud crash echoed through the corridor in the dead of night.
Assassin's slender body crashed into the wall like a cannonball, instantly cracking the white wall. Countless cracks spread outwards from the point of impact, sending concrete fragments and dust flying everywhere.
In the blink of an eye Shirou closed the distance to more than ten meters and launched an attack; the whole process was so fast that it was almost impossible for the naked eye to see it.
"I'm in a hurry, don't bother me."
Shirou withdrew his hand and flicked his wrist.
He concluded that she was the type of person who couldn't be communicated with properly, so he took the initiative to quiet her down.
Having dealt with Assassin, Shirou turned to leave, but—
"..."Zabaniyah (Delusional Illusion)"
Dark shadows stretched out from beneath the rubble of the wall—
Upon closer inspection, it was long, thick black hair that even Medusa Shirou.
The boy lightly jumped backward, dodging the sneak attack.
Immediately afterwards, the assassin in black robes staggered to his feet from the rubble of the wall.
The massive amount of black hair that instantly dominated the entire corridor indeed extended from inside her hood.
Shirou paused for a moment, then stared at Assassin and spoke.
"Although I held back just now and controlled my power to the point of not killing you, however..."
It's astonishing; I've never heard of Hassan possessing two miracles (Zabaniyah) at the same time."
The assassin's physical transformation wasn't limited to his black hair turning into sharp blades.
What was revealed through the hole in the chest of the girl's tattered robe, which had been torn during the attack, was not skin, but an unidentified substance resembling crystal.
That's the thing that withstood and absorbed the impact of Shirou's fist, which was imbued with magical energy.
However, it seems that it's not Noble Phantasm that's activated regularly...
The crystal covering her skin disappeared, revealing a fair and full cleavage.
"I don't know why your Master has you stationed here, but step back... I don't intend to fight in a place like this."
After Shirou said that, he heard an unexpected reply.
"I am not Hassan, nor do I have Master."
"?"
"I have no intention of serving Magecraft, nor do I crave the Holy Grail."
"???"
Facing the bewildered Shirou, the female assassin calmly uttered words of reassurance.
"I will shatter this heretical ritual that has misled our great forefathers."
Shirou:"..."
See? This guy is completely impossible to communicate with.
Ultimately, you clearly have Master supplying you with demonic energy, don't you?
If she were truly an unclaimed Servant, she should have been killed by Shirou in that attack.
I think I understand...
You intend to indiscriminately slaughter all the Magecraft involved in this Holy Grail War, is that a fair interpretation?
"..."
Assassin nodded, agreeing with Shirou's question without hesitation.
All the Magecraft who intervened in the Holy Grail War were deserving sinners, according to her own belief.
In the distant past--
Even as a young girl, when the assassin was still human, she was scornfully called a "True Assassin" because of her unconventional faith.
If it were just a worldly view, that would be one thing, but even fellow countrymen who worship the same God think this way.
However, the girl did not hate anyone.
She believes that the reason she is slandered is because she is not mature enough.
It's simply that my faith isn't strong enough, nothing more.
True Assassin then pursue self-discovery even more intensely.
She seeks to recreate the miracles performed by her ancestors—
The various miracles bestowed upon the former leaders of the order, who sought to inherit the title, all bearing the name of the fallen angel (Zabaniya).
Anyone would be stunned by what she did.
No one could believe that this young, female believer...
She had somehow mastered all the miracles of the eighteen leaders who had existed over the past few centuries.
This is clearly evidence that the girl endured painstaking and arduous training.
It is obvious that True Assassin more pure, diligent, and gifted than anyone else.
However, the members of the order did not recognize her as the successor to the title of leader (Old Man of the Mountain).
"Look at what you've done? It's not even as good as copying other fields; it's nothing more than 'imitating miracles.'"
The reason you cannot create miracles is that there are still immature parts within you.
True Assassin not only possess extraordinary and rare talents, but also have an awareness that transcends human understanding.
In order to obtain the Delusional Heartbeat known as "Zabaniya," she even went so far as to dismember and reassemble her own body.
It was precisely this extraordinary talent and obsessive faith that instilled fear in those around her.
"Therefore, you are not mature enough. So we cannot let such a person inherit the title of leader."
The elders of the cult only gave this far-fetched reason out of fear and jealousy towards her, but the girl never had a single thought of doubt.
--Is that so? Is my faith not enough?
--How could I be so immature as to have insulted the great Zabaniya of the past leaders?
The True Assassin didn't hate anyone; instead, he continued to hone his skills purely.
When the person known as "Hundred Faces" is chosen as the new leader—
Seeing this person's proficiency in all sorts of things, she realized that it was a skill she herself lacked, and from then on she felt even more ashamed of her own immaturity.
As a result, she never obtained any proof throughout her life and simply disappeared from the history of the cult as an eccentric believer.
That's how it should be.
However, her name was not even recorded in the records of the cult.
The girl's talent and her awareness were recorded by the world.
Summoned to this era as Servant True Assassin the Assassin class, he comprehends everything through the knowledge granted by the Holy Grail.
Several leaders have sought the Holy Grail in such rituals.
She felt only immense sadness at this.
She didn't want to hate those leaders, nor did she intend to despise them.
They are indeed more steadfast than anyone else in their faith, and still deserve our utmost respect.
The object of this hatred is the evil entity known as the "Holy Grail War" itself, and the Magecraft (Master) who created this blasphemous ritual.
"Keeping a terrorist like you around would only create more uncertainty, so I've changed my mind."
Having confirmed Assassin's obsessive thoughts, Shirou narrowed his eyes—revealing murderous intent for the first time.
"!!"
The hooded girl assumed a fighting stance as if facing a formidable enemy, but in the face of such an overwhelming difference in strength, anything she did would be meaningless.
She herself is very aware of this.
Even so, True Assassin have reasons why they absolutely cannot back down.
She whispered, "I will not allow you to kill children, even if it costs me my own life..."
"Ah?"
"... Zabaniya (Delusional Illusionary Spirit)!!"
Taking advantage of Shirou's dazed state, the True Assassin launched an attack.
A thick, dark fog appeared along with the words of liberation, swirling around her body.
It's unclear how it works, but the assassins manipulate the mist into all sorts of shapes, including giant beasts, serpents, beautiful women, and male giants.
This is one of the eighteen Zabaniya learned by True Assassin: the power to control Jinn.
The sprites, taking the form of dense fog, used physical force to leap over the hospital corridor and rush straight towards the boy.
We can win...!
The thought existed in the assassin girl's mind for only a moment before vanishing like a dream.
Just as the dense fog she summoned was about to engulf the enemy, countless blades shot out from the void surrounding Shirou.
The colossal spiritual beast was unilaterally ravaged.
Shirou continued slaughtering the monsters in the thick fog as he approached the assassin girl.
The True Assassin, of course, wouldn't sit idly by and wait to die; she also rushed forward, intending to engage in close combat.
While Assassin might be faster in terms of instantaneous speed, this speed advantage is completely meaningless in the face of an absolute difference in strength.
Seconds later, the True Assassin was knocked to the ground.
Shirou walked over and pressed the tip of the sword he had casually taken out against her heart (Spirit Core).
"You just said something quite interesting... you said you wanted to protect young children?"
"I won't let you do whatever you want anymore," Assassin said, frowning.
Shirou was somewhat speechless. "Have you even figured out the situation...? The child you're trying to protect is also Master participated in the Holy Grail War, you know?"
She should be one of the people you have to kill, right?
"... Oh."
The True Assassin revealed a contemptuous smile beneath his veil, "So that's how it is. You truly are a complete scumbag."