Chapter 9: First, can you tell me how you usually spend your time at school?

The battle between Saber and the black-clad Servant had become nothing short of a one-sided beating. The enemy was simply too fast. Even her skill in Instinct couldn’t keep up, and blood was pouring from wounds all over her body. The searing pain dulled her thoughts, only worsening the vicious cycle.

“Ha ha! What a joke—you’re nothing but a puppet! Looks like you pulled the short straw, Emiya!”

There was nothing to say in return. He was right. If she were truly King Arthur, this opponent wouldn’t have been a challenge.

The moment she lost the ability to follow the enemy with her eyes, it was over. All that was left was to be toyed with and killed. But then, what would become of her Master? Shirou—who had reached out to her even though she was a fake. The mere thought of what this monster might do to him after she was gone made her stomach churn.

She couldn’t let it end here. Not for his sake. She couldn't give up now. At the very least, she had to take down the enemy before her, even if it cost her life. As long as this woman was eliminated, Shirou could escape. If he could regroup with Rin, he’d be safe. Rin would protect him—she was sure of it.

So, she aimed for a single, decisive blow. Everything would ride on the instant the enemy moved in to finish her. She ignored the fact that her opponent was a woman. Ignored the pain lancing through her body. Ignored the guilt of killing someone.

All she wanted was to protect Shirou. She pushed every other thought from her mind.

“Do it, Rider! Finish off Emiya’s Servant!”

It was coming. The moment her Instinct sensed Rider’s killing stroke, she struck back with everything she had.

Her all-out counterattack tore deep into Rider’s body. Yet, the pain she had braced for never came. What reached her instead was the shrill clang of metal—and the ragged breath of the one she was supposed to protect.

“S–Shirou…?”

Saber called out, but her voice didn’t reach him. His hearing was barely functioning. In fact, only one of his eyes still worked properly. His limbs were numb—he couldn’t feel them at all.

“…This is pathetic.”

In both hands he held twin blades, one black and one white—Kanshou and Bakuya, the yin-yang swords. Even after deflecting Rider’s nail sword with all his strength, the blades bore not a scratch. Still, their quality was subpar.

Shirou’s legs gave out, and Saber rushed to catch him.

“No way…”

Shinji’s stunned voice rang out as he stared down at the injured Rider in disbelief. She was still alive.

Saber gently apologized as she laid Shirou on the ground, then gripped the hilt of Excalibur.

“W–What are you doing?! Hey! Cut it out!”

Ignoring Shinji’s outburst, Saber stepped toward him, one foot at a time.

“…Shinji-kun.”

She called out, not to him, but to the boy hurling abuse at Rider.

“W–What? Stay away! H–Hey, Rider! How long are you gonna lie there?!”

Sparks danced across Rider’s body. Apparently, she was being punished for failing to obey Shinji’s command.

A cruel loop. Rider could no longer fight. Standing was difficult enough. And yet, Shinji kept ordering her to get up and fight. Her body convulsed under his commands, deepening her wounds and snuffing out what little life she had left.

“…Shinji-kun, hand over Rider. Then go home. Return to your family.”

Rider would have to be killed. Even if she was a woman, she was still a Servant. As long as a Servant lived, the Holy Grail War wouldn’t end. So Saber had to end it.

She had always known this moment would come.

“…Now go.”

She was scared. Her throat was dry.

Even if the opponent wasn’t human—even if they were a Servant—killing was still a sin. “It’s war,” “to survive,” “they’re the enemy”… Her mind scrambled for excuses.

Protecting Shirou meant ending the Holy Grail War. And that meant killing the enemy Servants.

Shinji screamed and ran away. With him gone, no one was left to interfere.

“…Ugh.”

The closer she stepped to Rider, the more her body trembled. Dizziness washed over her.

“…I–I have to kill her.”

She whispered it like a mantra.

“I have to kill her. If I don’t, I can’t protect him… That’s why it’s okay…”

Her strength drained from her limbs.

“Ah…”

She was terrified. She had never been this afraid. Not even when she was nearly hit by that truck.

Taking a life… was more terrifying than dying.

“But… but…”

With a loud clatter, Excalibur slipped from her hand.

“Ah… I… I have to pick it up—”

As she bent down to retrieve the fallen sword, Rider moved—as if she had been waiting for that exact moment.

She couldn’t react. Instinct wasn’t enough. Her posture was too poor to do anything.

She was going to die. Her instincts told her that this wasn’t a chance for a comeback—it was cold, inescapable reality. And yet, Saber let out a breath of relief.

Now she wouldn’t have to kill anyone…

“――You bastard!”

A spray of blood filled the air. It wasn’t Saber’s.

It was Rider’s—her head severed cleanly from her body.

Shirou had leapt in with Kanshou and beheaded her.

“W–Why…”

“…You don’t have to be the one to kill, Saber.”

His voice was quiet.

“N–No… You shouldn’t have to, Shirou-kun. A child shouldn’t—”

“You’re crying!”

Shirou’s shout cut her off. Saber stiffened, her face tight. Shirou bit his lip.

“…This kind of thing is my responsibility.”

“What are you saying—”

“――A magus accepts death.”

Shirou spoke in a tone colder than she’d ever heard.

“…Whether or not they harm others doesn’t matter. Even if their hands remain clean, the path they walk is soaked in blood. That’s what it means to be a magus. That’s why I’ve steeled myself to kill. But you’re different, Saber.”

“I–I only did it to protect you—!”

“There’s no need for you to bear the burden of killing for something like that!”

“But then, how can I—”

“You don’t have to protect me! I don’t want to be protected by someone who looks like that!”

What a foolish mistake. Even now, Saber hadn’t truly understood what it meant to participate in the Holy Grail War. Shirou threw Kanshou aside in frustration.

To survive this war, Servants must be killed. Which meant that, as long as Saber tried to protect Shirou, she would inevitably be forced to kill. That moment had now come.

She should have seen it coming. The idea that Sato Hino, an ordinary person inhabiting Saber’s body, would have to take a life… She hated herself for not even considering what that might do to him.

“I was wrong from the start. I never should have let you fight, Saber—not under any circumstances.”

“Shirou-kun, that’s—”

“Sato Hino is a civilian!”

She fell silent at the sound of his real name.

“Sato shouldn’t have to kill. I should have realized that sooner…”

Shirou said.

“I won’t let Saber fight anymore.”

“D-don’t be ridiculous! Just because she killed a near-death Rider—”

“I know. Rider was already dying long ago. I don’t expect my current strength to work against the other five Servants.”

“Then…”

“That’s why I’ll become stronger.”

In Shirou’s eyes burned an unshakable determination.

“…That’s not going to work.”

But Saber couldn’t back down either.

“Seeking power just to kill your enemies… that’s what people call the path of carnage. I won’t let you walk that hell, Shirou-kun!”

“So you’re going to walk it yourself?”

Shirou’s voice trembled with anger, but Saber didn’t flinch.

“Yeah, that’s right. Don’t forget, Shirou-kun, I’m already dead. Walking through hell is the job of the dead, killing enemies is my job.”

“You’re crying and trembling, dropping your crucial weapons—that kind of person can’t walk the path of carnage, and I won’t allow it.”

“I don’t need your permission. I showed my disgrace just now, but next time, I’ll definitely—”

“Killing? Impossible for you.”

“It’s not impossible!”

The two glared fiercely at each other. Their irreconcilable convictions created a rift between them.

They clashed because they cared for each other.

“You just sit back and eat delicious food, play games, and lie around!”

“That’s my line! Kids should be kids—rely on adults! Be more selfish!”

As they argued, a faint groan stopped them.

The woman attacked by Rider was barely breathing.

She might survive. The moment they realized this, continuing their quarrel vanished from their minds. They needed to treat her immediately.

“Shinji said taking her to a doctor would be useless.”

“Then we have no choice but to ask Rin for help. Let’s head to Emiya’s house.”

“Got it.”

As Shirou nodded and bent down to lift the woman, his body collapsed.

“Sh-Shirou-kun!?”

“Huh—?”

He didn’t move at all. Saber quickly checked his breathing; though irregular, Shirou was barely alive. But they couldn’t let their guard down.

“Anyhow… get him to Rin…”

Struggling, Saber slung Shirou on her back and lifted the woman. Carefully, so as not to drop them, she began to walk.

When they reached the mansion, Saber laid them down and sought Rin’s help.

“...What’s that?”

Before Rin could respond, Archer arrived. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of Bakuya, still clutched in Shirou’s hand.

“That’s what Shirou projected. More importantly, what about those two?”

“I see. I’ll handle the boy. The woman is Rin’s responsibility.”

Saber was no longer surprised by his kindness. Trusting him, she handed Shirou over.

“I see… it seems the thing that was closed opened when he projected my sword.”

“Closed?”

“This boy is hopelessly foolish. Once a magecraft circuit is made, it can be surfaced and hidden at will, like a switch. But this boy was unaware and misunderstood.”

“In other words…?”

“He already had the circuit inside him. But he lived without knowing it until today. So the abandoned part is now shocked by ‘proper use.’ Either way, I’ve treated it. After one night’s sleep, his body will move again.”

“Th-then, Shirou-kun is—”

“Fine. In fact, considering how abnormal it’s been until now, when he wakes, he should be a slightly better mage than before.”

“I-I see…”

“More importantly—”

Just as Archer was about to speak, Rin came running from the hallway holding a red jewel in her hand.

“—Seriously, this kind of thing should be the Church’s territory!”

Rin grumbled as she started treatment without even hearing the full story. Apparently, she had spotted Saber returning with the two through a window and had taken time gathering what was needed for the treatment.

“Rin, what about her…?”

“She somehow managed to cling to life. Whoever attacked her did it rather sloppily.”

Saying that, she stood up and looked Saber in the eyes.

“Well then, can you explain what happened?”

“…Yeah.”

For the time being, they moved location. Shirou and the woman were laid down on futons, and they headed to the living room.

“By the way, you were about to say something earlier, right?”

Opening the sliding door, Saber asked Archer. He averted his gaze and replied:

“It’s nothing. More importantly, no training tonight. Rest up well.”

“…Yeah. Thanks for everything, Archer.”

“Hmph.”

Archer turned on his heel and disappeared.

Saber once again silently offered thanks to the void, then took her seat to report to Rin.

She told her that Shinji was Rider’s Master and that they had managed to eliminate her. Rin shrugged.

“For a pair of amateurs, that’s pretty good. But today’s victory was mainly because the opponent was also inexperienced. Don’t forget that, okay?”

“…Yeah, I’ll keep it in mind.”

“—Still, Shinji, huh… That was a blind spot. Well, Makiri is one of the big three families, so it wouldn’t be strange if they had a trick or two up their sleeve…”

After Rin went back to her room to think, Saber headed toward the room where Shirou was sleeping.

In the end, she didn’t mention their earlier argument to Rin. Shirou’s will wouldn’t change no matter what anyone said, and the only way to handle it was for Saber herself to become strong enough to give him peace of mind.

She prepared cold water, dampened a towel, and wiped the sweat flowing from his forehead.

“When he’s asleep, he looks even younger…”

She felt deep guilt for letting a child kill someone.

If only she had been stronger then… if only she had been able to kill Rider, Shirou wouldn’t be so unsettled.

“How pathetic I am…”

Older than him, yet she had faltered at the crucial moment. She wondered why Archer even trained her.

“Shirou-kun wants to be a hero, right? Then you can’t seek power just to kill enemies…”

Though she hadn’t heard it directly, Saber knew his dream. She also knew what would come of it. Yet, in Rin’s route of the original story, Archer—the future version of Shirou—accepted his past.

There would be hardship and sorrow, but he could truly become a hero. She couldn’t let him stray from that path because of her.

If things went on as they were, she feared he would walk toward a future with no return.

“…I want him to be happy.”

Is this what parenthood was?

Saber prayed earnestly all through the night as she cared for Shirou, not wanting him to live a life of misfortune.

When morning came, the woman woke first in a panic, but Rin, who had prepared in advance, dealt with it. She manipulated her memory, then took Archer to the church early in the morning.

Worried that Shirou hadn’t woken even by noon, Saber stepped away briefly and headed to the bath. She still had dirt and grime from the fight on her clothes and skin.

After taking off her clothes and tossing them in the laundry basket, she entered the spacious and comfortable bathroom of the Emiya residence. Sitting on a stool, she took a shower. Her reflection was clear in the fog-resistant mirror, and Saber let out a sigh as she stared at herself.

“…Huh?”

Staring intently, she felt a strange discomfort she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

It was like having something stuck in her back teeth.

After a while, unable to reach a conclusion, Saber gave up thinking, washed her hair and body, and soaked in the bath. Having a bath where she could stretch her legs fully was truly wonderful.

In life before, the apartment she’d lived in was cramped and had the toilet inside the same room—it was miserable. This bath was pure bliss, a moment that made her glad she had come to this world.

“…Hm?”

As she soaked leisurely, there was a clattering noise outside the door.

Maybe Shirou had woken and was trying to put away the laundry. She couldn’t let him do that in his weakened state. Just as she hurried to stop him, the door suddenly opened. Stifling a yawn, Shirou entered, swinging something rather large between his legs.

“…Huh?”

Finally, Shirou noticed Saber. Both lost for words.

The frozen moment was broken by a cold drop falling from the ceiling.

With a splash, Saber snapped back to reality and said:

“…I never thought I’d have an accidental encounter in the bath.”

Shirou’s expression shifted rapidly — first flushed red, then pale blue, and finally completely white.

“S-Sorry, Saber! I just wanted to wash off the sweat, that’s all!”

“…Ah, just calm down for now. Come on, take a deep breath, deep breath.”

Prompted by Saber, Shirou obediently took a deep breath. Finally regaining composure, he turned around.

“…Wait a moment, Shirou-kun.”

As Shirou tried to leave, Saber called after him.

“Y-Yes…?”

Shirou’s face tensed.

“…Can we talk for a bit?”

“Talk…?”

“Yeah, while you wash up, it’s fine.”

“Uh, well—”

“Come on, let’s have a naked talk between men.”

“Even if you say that… what exactly would we talk about?”

“About each other.”

“Each other…?”

Saber nodded.

“I want to properly know you. And I want you to know me too. Is that okay?”

“…Yeah, sure, but maybe not here—”

“I feel like here, we can talk without pretending.”

“…Alright.”

Shirou reluctantly nodded and picked up some soap.

“So, what do you want to know about me?”

“Well then… hmm. First, tell me how you usually spend your time at school.”