Shirou's Return from the Fae Kingdom

Shirou slowly cast the healing spell, regretting not putting more effort into healing Magic during his time in Britain.

At this moment, the boy noticed Hundred-Faced Hassan's right hand—tightly gripping the transmitter Shirou had given her.

"Zabaniya" was undoubtedly a very useful Noble Phantasm in the Holy Grail War.

Summoning just one Servant granted the user the skills, abilities, and thoughts of eighty-eight individuals, along with eighty-eight times the action capability.

However, Hundred-Faced Hassan had a fatal weakness: since each persona was an independent entity, they could not communicate telepathically after being split.

This resulted in the Assassin being unable to call for help from other Hassans or inform them of the situation after being attacked.

At the brink of death, she used her last ounce of strength to send a distress signal to Shirou.

"Let's get ready to go."

Shirou finished the healing spell and said to Lady Avalon via telepathy.

The large hole in Hundred-Faced Hassan's chest had disappeared. Although she hadn't regained consciousness, her life was no longer in danger.

Fortunately, the enemy's marksmanship was precise enough that Hundred-Faced Hassan's Spirit Core remained intact. Otherwise, even Morgan couldn't have healed her.

"How do you plan to leave?"

Lady Avalon asked, not believing the enemy would let Shirou go so easily.

However, Shirou was expecting the enemy to let him go.

"We'll leave openly."

Shirou slung the unconscious Hundred-Faced Hassan over his shoulder and then brazenly began to retreat.

Just as he had predicted, the extremely cautious enemy did not attack from the shadows.

In the darkness.

The man gazed into the distance with deep, chaotic pupils at the red-haired youth carrying the Assassin, until the small, staggering figure completely disappeared from the open view of the port's clearing.

"..."

He slowly lowered the Walther Sniper Rifle.

On the way to the inn, Hundred-Faced Hassan woke up.

"Hey, Assassin, did you sleep well?"

"Where am I... Ugh!"

"It's best not to move too much. My healing spell isn't exactly top-notch. In the end, I just stitched your torn flesh back together, but at least I saved your life."

"Shirou... You really came?"

Hundred-Faced Hassan was astonished that the red-haired youth had actually come to save her life, even suspecting she was dreaming.

After a few seconds of accepting reality, she spoke, "Honestly, I never thought you would come."

"It was probably an impulse. Actually, I'm starting to regret it now."

"Did something happen?"

Shirou explained the situation to Hundred-Faced Hassan in detail.

They were currently being targeted by an extremely formidable, completely unidentified enemy.

Shirou attempted to profile the unseen enemy based on his observations tonight—

He was an assassin among assassins, possessing extremely high-level sniping skills and the "Mystic Eyes of Petrification" skill. He excelled at all assassination techniques, including ambushes, and was proficient in both firearms and Magic.

Furthermore, the enemy was likely very familiar with the rules of the Holy Grail War.

Cautious, ruthless, and willing to do anything to achieve his goals.

Things like the supreme dignity and honor that Saber and Lancer held dear were worthless in his eyes.

Killing was his way of existence.

Although the number of lives he had taken was likely countless, he never killed indiscriminately. Instead, he killed continuously to reach some ultimate goal.

Such a person had intervened in the Holy Grail War to achieve a certain objective.

After hearing Shirou's description, Hundred-Faced Hassan was dumbfounded.

"No, you only had a brief confrontation in the dark, right? You didn't even know where he was hiding?"

Shirou nodded. "Yeah, but... I just had that feeling. It's like I've known this person for a long time."

"But you don't know where he's hiding or what he looks like," Hundred-Faced Hassan teased.

"You're in no position to say that, Assassin, who was almost killed!" Shirou retorted.

Hundred-Faced Hassan's expression was grim. "To be ambushed by an enemy while on a mission... this is undoubtedly the greatest disgrace of my life."

She clenched her fist. I'll remember this blood debt tonight and repay it tenfold in the future.

Otherwise, even if she returned to the Throne of Heroes, she would have no face to see the past leaders or that person.

She also felt she was letting down that genius girl who had bitterly lost to her in the leader election.

"I don't plan to inform Master about tonight's events."

If she reported tonight's incident to the Tohsaka faction, Shirou's existence would be exposed.

Shirou nodded. "Yeah, that's what I was thinking too."

Hundred-Faced Hassan said, "But is everything alright on your end? Do you need me to send a few 'mes' to guard you?"

"No, the fewer people who know about our relationship right now, the better. It wouldn't be good if Kirei Kotomine noticed something was wrong."

"I understand. Be careful then."

The female assassin paused, then turned her face away as if embarrassed.

"Also, thank you for tonight.

Because of me, you ended up exposing your identity to the enemy too...

Grumph, I will surely make amends for today's mistake in the future."

"I only went to save you to gain your trust. This is my own doing, so don't feel too guilty.

Besides... if Assassin-nee-san died, it would be too hard for me to take care of that child alone."

Hundred-Faced Hassan let out a cold laugh. "I knew it."

"But you're right, my identity being exposed is very bad. Being hidden in the shadows was my only advantage."

We don't even know which faction they belong to, yet they've already seen my face.

There's no worse situation than this, Shirou grumbled.

"Is that so..."

Hundred-Faced Hassan looked puzzled and murmured to the boy.

"But... Shirou, you look quite happy..."

"What?"

Shirou reached up and touched his cheek, surprised to find the corners of his lips really were turned up.

...Am I feeling pleased?

Volume 1, Chapter 049: Morgan: It's definitely not me, right?

By the time Hundred-Faced Hassan was taken to the inn, the battle in the warehouse district had already ended.

Shirou returned to his own home.

As soon as he got home, Lady Avalon dispelled her Spiritualization.

She was uncharacteristically silent, walked to a corner, sat down hugging her knees, and exuded an aura of unhappiness.

She's unhappy because I couldn't go find Saber?

Shirou ignored her and picked up the crystal ball beside her.

Lady Avalon's crystal ball had built-in "record" and "playback" functions, so even if you missed the live broadcast, you could watch it afterward.

This was a great help.

He adjusted it to tonight's battle in the warehouse district.

Although the crystal ball's view was from a distance, the golden hair and blue eyes in the night, along with that Holy Sword of the Stars, were unmistakable.

"Morgan, is that you...?"

Shirou then began to ponder: If she really is Morgan, why did she descend to this world?

Servants who can be summoned, like Magus, all have wishes without exception.

Morgan's wish...

Shirou knew it: In Morgan's heart, nothing was more important than Britain.

But she should have already obtained Britain.

He remembered Makiri once saying: There's no concept of time on the "Throne," and summoned Heroic Spirits are not necessarily great heroes from history.

Could the Saber appearing now be a future version of Morgan, not the Morgan from the time of the "Savior Ash"?

No wonder she's using an Armament (Scabbard) I don't recognize. But that holy sword is undoubtedly hers... and her fighting style is still hers.

I'll confirm these doubts when I meet Saber. No more overthinking.

Shirou patted his cheek and continued watching the subsequent developments of the battle in the warehouse district.

Rider and Archer appeared one after another.

Lancer withdrew under his Master's command.

Then the scene devolved into a free-for-all battle between Saber, Rider, and Lancer.

The exceptional golden Heroic Spirit goes without saying, and Rider is also a top-tier Servant.

"I am King of Conquerors Iskandar," he declared.

Alexander the Great of the Kingdom of Macedon—

This is a great figure whose name even Shirou had heard of.

However, Saber held her own against such a powerful opponent without falling behind.

Huh? King of Knights? What the heck?

Why would Rider call Saber the King of Knights?

Are your eyes blind?

Or is the King Arthur of this world a woman?

He quickly flipped open the reference book at hand, which contained a portrait of King Arthur—a bearded uncle.

"..."

Shirou felt ashamed that he had actually believed the King of Conquerors for even a moment.

"To call such a delicate and lovely young girl King Arthur... was this world almost conquered by that kind of idiot?"

Finally, the golden Archer, seemingly receiving instructions from his Master, exited unhappily ahead of schedule.

Then came the King of Conquerors, who had thrown Saber's fight into disarray.

"King of Knights, we shall part ways for now. Next time we meet, I shall let you experience that exhilarating feeling again."

With that self-directed remark, the gallant Rider, holding the unconscious young Master under one arm, swung the reins of his chariot and disappeared into the night sky.