"What?"
Rin Tohsaka and Shirou Emiya, who were at the Emiya Residence, both stared at Sasuke in shock.
In response, Sasuke gave them a more detailed account of what had happened with Illya at Ryudou Temple the day before.
Compared to Rin Tohsaka and Shirou Emiya's surprise, Saber remained composed. She was more interested in the Assassin who had managed to drive Berserker back.
Had he achieved the effect of a Noble Phantasm through swordsmanship alone?
Though Sasaki Kojiro, as an Assassin, had Caster's support and the advantage of the terrain, it was still remarkable that he had driven Berserker back head-on.
However, Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka were also delighted. Sasuke's answer meant that he had agreed to help them, so foiling Caster's scheme now seemed all but certain.
Rin Tohsaka exchanged a glance with Shirou Emiya, then spoke:
"In that case, shouldn't we come up with a battle plan before we set out?"
But just then, several streaks of blue light gathered, and a tall young man with tanned skin appeared in the living room.
The tanned young man wore a fitted red-and-black outfit with a jacket. He had white hair, dark eyes, and slicked-back hair.
"Archer?"
Rin Tohsaka looked at her Servant, Archer, in confusion.
Archer had volunteered to patrol and scout the area around the residence, so she didn't know why he had come to join them now.
Archer wore a stern, cold expression as he stared at Sasuke, who was seated in the living room.
So he had finally shown himself?
Just judging by his current outfit, Archer seemed much more like a Servant now.
Sasuke calmly met Archer's gaze.
From Archer's eyes, Sasuke could tell that he was puzzled by him.
As if to ask why this person was here.
Sasuke couldn't figure out what Archer was thinking, but as long as Archer wasn't hostile, he didn't care.
Seeing Sasuke's reaction, Archer turned his gaze back to Rin Tohsaka:
"Rin, are you really planning to go after Caster just like that?"
Not knowing what Archer was getting at, Rin Tohsaka frowned and asked him:
"What?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
Archer gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"Leaving Assassin aside for now..."
"If we defeat Caster right away, what do you plan to do about the remaining Berserker?"
"Why not let Caster keep absorbing people's life force, then use that power to defeat Berserker?"
"After that, all we have to do is take down Caster."
Archer's reasoning wasn't entirely without merit.
In a direct confrontation, Archer might be able to grievously wound Berserker, but winning would still be difficult.
Letting the two sides wear each other down while they profited from the outcome was indeed the best strategy.
At Archer's words, Shirou Emiya's expression changed abruptly, and Saber was also moved.
But before Shirou Emiya could object, Rin Tohsaka looked at Archer with a stern expression:
"Archer, you do know that I'm the current head of the Tohsaka Family, right?"
"Whether as the person responsible for Fuyuki City or as an individual, Caster's actions are enough to make me go after her immediately."
At that, Shirou Emiya's expression eased. He knew Rin Tohsaka wouldn't go along with Archer's plan.
Rin Tohsaka's words left Archer looking somewhat helpless as he spread his hands.
"True, Rin."
"But Caster really is holding back."
"If she'd taken those people's lives along with their life force, she'd probably have enough magical energy to deal with Berserker by now."
"And if the people in the city..."
Before Archer could continue, Shirou Emiya could no longer sit still. He sprang to his feet and shouted angrily:
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
"I would never sacrifice the people around me for the sake of victory or some result!"
Archer remained calm in the face of Shirou Emiya's anger.
"I wouldn't do that either, Shirou Emiya."
"But you can't save everyone. If Caster gets the Holy Grail, her victims won't be limited to this city."
"If we can't win in the end, the disaster will only spread further."
"So sacrificing a few..."
Beside the table, Sasuke had been resting his chin on one hand, as if watching a play. He interrupted their argument and slowly stood up, his expression calm.
"In the end, no matter what kind of war it is, the innocent ordinary people are the ones who suffer."
"Your so-called Holy Grail War is no different."
"When you Mages drag ordinary people into your so-called internal conflicts, you've already lost your way."
As Sasuke blinked and opened his eyes again, his once-dark eyes had turned blood-red, revealing the Mangekyō Sharingan.
With his Mangekyō Sharingan activated, Sasuke looked calmly at everyone present.
"I don't really understand the concept of Heroic Spirits, and I can't be bothered to figure out what all this is about."
"But no matter how talented someone is..."
"Before the name Uchiha, everyone is just an ordinary person."
Sasuke glanced at Archer and spoke calmly:
"If I feel like it, I can end the lives of you Servants whenever I want."
This wasn't arrogance on Sasuke's part.
As far as Sasuke was concerned, the people in this world had no idea what the Uchiha were capable of.
Even though Sasuke had settled into a quiet life for years, and had no intention of giving it up,
if anyone disturbed his peace, he would make every one of them disappear from this world.
The tension between Sasuke and Archer was about to fill the living room. Seeing that things were taking a bad turn, Rin Tohsaka hurriedly spoke up:
"Mr. Uchiha, Archer is only thinking about the bigger picture."
"And I..."
Before Rin Tohsaka could finish, Sasuke interrupted her again:
"It doesn't matter."
"I just think it's ridiculous that you're arguing endlessly over this."
"Perhaps you and Shirou aren't that kind of people, Tohsaka."
"If you were, you wouldn't have saved Kaoru back then."
It was perfectly normal for people to disagree.
But Sasuke didn't feel much for the so-called Servants. They were a bunch of dead spirits to begin with; if they died, then they died.
But Sasuke still remembered that Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka had helped Kaoru.
"So if you still want to argue, I won't stop you."
"But after tonight, Caster and Assassin will both disappear from this world."
"Only one team of Masters and Servants can win the Holy Grail War, right?"
"Why don't you spend tonight discussing which team deserves to claim that victory?"
With that, Sasuke started to leave on his own.
But just then, Shirou Emiya stood up and looked at Sasuke, his gaze resolute.
"Mr. Uchiha, please let Saber and me help you!"
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