Shirou's Grand Heroic Saga Chapter 50

"If that's the case, let's all make up, and if we have to fight, we can do it after dinner," Sakura nodded with satisfaction. "But Lancer, I'm curious, what did you mean about Senpai's bad luck?"

"It's like bad luck suddenly struck Archer, almost to the point of affecting me," Lancer said, mocking his own E-rank luck.

Shirou felt sorry for Lancer and comforted him, "Look, my luck is only a little better than yours. We're in the same boat. (Even if my luck were lower, it would still be higher than yours)."

Moreover, he had already won this exchange in all but name.

He had gained both the information Lancer was about to reveal and the upper hand in their verbal spar.

"I feel like you said something quite rude."

"Did I? No."

Shirou flatly denied it and quickly ushered in the meal.

After eating and drinking tea, the dishes were all cleared away.

"Shall we begin?" Lancer appeared calm, but his mind was in turmoil.

"Couldn't you have just used me as a tool and gone with me to kill Caster and the others?"

"Fulfilling others' wishes is also part of being a hero of justice. If you don't like it, don't play."

Leaning on his spear planted in the ground, Lancer used it for support as he stood up. "Then I thank you. For that, I will fight you without my Noble Phantasm or magic."

"You couldn't beat me even if you used your Noble Phantasm," Shirou said, drawing his twin blades and walking into the courtyard.

"Perhaps, but it would at least make things very uncomfortable for you," Lancer said, uncharacteristically without any mockery towards Shirou, and without having gained any hidden advantage.

"Let me give you some advice. Today will not be peaceful. The commotion you've caused has already made the Einzbern family restless. You should conserve your magic."

"They're already restless?" Shirou clicked his tongue in surprise. "They're finally in a tight spot. If they want to come, let them. Rather than searching for enemies, I'd prefer the enemies come to me. If they plan to send their Puppets to die one by one, that's incredibly foolish. A wise move would be to attack all at once. But this is fine too, I'm in a hurry."

"Oh? Very confident, aren't we?" Lancer smiled. Having an opponent like this for his final battle, to be able to fight a satisfying fight, was his last wish in life, to help Cú Chulainn fulfill it.

"I still need to save my sister. If you want to fight, then fight."

With his left foot forward and his right foot back, slightly angled, the tip of his spear pointed downwards, Lancer assumed his stance.

With twin blades in hand, Shirou had no need for such things; he possessed enough confidence to face Lancer.

"Go!"

Author's Notes: The final slice-of-life segment in this world is finally coming to an end... Please give me some votes! Recommendation votes... I haven't gotten many recommendation votes today == Chapter 24: An Archer Who Can't Fight Close Combat Isn't a Good Archer

The twin blades clashed with the Red Spear, then separated. Short weapons are always at a disadvantage against long weapons. An inch longer is an inch stronger, an inch shorter is an inch more dangerous. As long as Shirou could close the distance with Lancer and break through his defenses, Lancer would be in a very precarious position.