"Are we really going to wait here?"
Night had already fallen. Issei Ryuudou returned to Ryudou Temple, where Tanba Momoyo—the form Shuten Douji had taken—was already waiting for him beside the main gate.
Issei Ryuudou had learned about the Holy Grail War.
He also learned that Ryudou Temple, Shuten Douji, and himself—the [Assassin's Master]—had already been targeted by other Masters.
"What's wrong? Would you rather be killed in your sleep, completely unaware?"
Shuten Douji looked at Issei Ryuudou with a smile.
"If that's the case, perhaps there's no need for the other Masters in the Holy Grail War. It might be better if I do it myself?"
Hearing Shuten Douji's words, Issei Ryuudou instantly felt a chill run down his spine.
"You... don't even think about it!"
"It was only a joke. Still, your overreaction is rather cute, so I don't mind."
"Since it bears the name of a war, the Holy Grail War is fundamentally cruel. I already told you that. If you don't want to be killed, then you have to kill others. That's perfectly reasonable, isn't it?"
"I..."
"I don't agree with you!"
Issei Ryuudou clenched his fists.
"There must be some way to put an end to something this cruel!"
The words were little more than a quiet murmur.
"Something's coming."
Shuten Douji's voice sounded beside his ear.
He abruptly raised his head, only to see Shuten Douji standing ahead of him with her back turned, looking in a certain direction.
"I've already found you. There's no point hiding now."
"This is the Holy Grail War, isn't it? If it's the Holy Grail War, why don't you come out and meet me?"
Shuten Douji smiled at the hidden presence as she spoke.
She still had a certain degree of confidence in herself.
Though Issei Ryuudou was