I Don't Feel Like Coming Up with a Title (Continued)

"No. If possible, I'd rather attack tomorrow or the day after, but sooner really is better."

"Y-Yes." Caules's tone was somewhat hurried.

He was a little afraid Shirou would see through his true thoughts.

"Of course. Even armies have time to recover—how could we possibly go without any rest at all? Yesterday's fierce battle exhausted many of our Servants. Archer and I took part in two consecutive battles yesterday, and we're both tired.

Rider and Berserker had it a little easier; their battles weren't as intense. But we can't rush into another fight just because of that, can we? Servants don't need sleep, but they still need mental rest. But most importantly—"

Shirou paused, hesitating for quite some time. Perhaps he shouldn't have said this to Caules, or to anyone else. Perhaps he should have simply kept it buried in his heart.

"Hmm?"

Caules looked at Shirou in confusion. "Assassin, what is it?"

"I'm just worried about my Master. She's not someone who puts people at ease. She hasn't even been alive for a week, and the only people she's met are a few inside the castle and several Servants of the Red Faction. Her life has been very short."

"Yes, but she's very strong. In the future, she'll live a wonderful life too... if she obtains the Holy Grail."

"It's precisely because she's so strong that I'm even more worried about her." Shirou sighed.

"What?"

Caules did not quite understand Shirou's words. Strong people were rarely the ones others worried about; more often, they were the ones worrying about everyone else.

Seeing Caules's confusion, Shirou chuckled. "You don't understand? Strong people have to shoulder more responsibility. She has only lived for such a short time, yet the responsibility she bears is far from light.

Even what she already knows