Chapter 43: ACT.12 "Idle Talk"

And night falls once again.

The air in Misaki Town is heavy due to the rumors circulating lately.

There are few people on the streets, and a chill permeates the air, feeling as if it could freeze not just the skin but even the internal organs.

In the midst of such a night.

A figure with golden hair sways on the rooftop of a building.

Arcueid Brunestud mutters while surveying the town.

"Well, just as I expected. The place where the TATARI itself will likely appear. If things continue like this, it will probably show up tomorrow night."

A building visible far in the distance.

The building planned to be the tallest in Misaki Town.

Arcueid realized that this place was where the TATARI, the cause of the current commotion, would finally appear.

"...And you know what else? The name of that building is 'Shrine.' It has a name like 'temple,' but what do you think about that?"

There should be no one around, but Arcueid spoke under the assumption that someone was present.

"Hmph, I see. The playwright who assembled this drama is somewhat considerate, isn't he? It may be simple, but he seems to understand the spirit of satisfying the audience."

Behind her, particles of light formed a human shape, and the man appeared.

A man with the same golden hair as Arcueid and eyes as red as blood.

However, the man was not a vampire of the Gaia side.

Nor was he a human living in the present, but a person from the world of lost myths.

In other words,

"Haaah. I never expected an Heroic Spirit. And the oldest king of humanity, no less. ...Plus, it looks like you've incarnated, but not by a proper means."

"Kukuku, you can tell without even seeing it? You can perceive not only my name but also that mud. Excellent, excellent—as expected of the Princess of the True Ancestors, I shall praise you."

"Thank you very much."

Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes. The one bearing that name was present here.

"I have many things I want to say, but you have no intention of getting involved with this TATARI, right?"

"Naturally. Why must I, the King, act as a mere player? I will simply observe the drama performed by the mongrels from the audience seat."

"...I see. Do as you like."

Having heard the answer she already knew, Arcueid prepared to leave.

"Ah, but there was an amusing human. I believe his name was... Tohno Shiki. His way of being is intriguing, but to possess such Mystic Eyes in this era. He is a truly rare existence, so perhaps it would be good to keep only his eyes in my treasury..."

Before he could utter the next word, a dense killing intent pressured the area.

"If you lay a hand on Shiki—I will kill you."

Arcueid, who hadn't even faced him until now, turned toward the King of Heroes for the first time.

Her eyes shone brightly like the moon, but her gaze was utterly cold.

"Hoh..."

The King of Heroes narrowed his eyes and muttered.

Instantly, he unleashed a thick killing intent upon Arcueid. It was something that could make an ordinary person go mad.

"If you wish to trifle with me, then let us have a proper bout. It wouldn't be so bad for me to stretch my legs after a long time."

The space behind the King of Heroes shimmered.

Then, countless Noble Phantasms—swords, spears, axes, and more—appeared and aimed at Arcueid.

"——You're the one who picked a fight, aren't you? So I'll take you on with everything I have."

"It's been a while. It has been a while. For someone to speak such words to me."

It truly had been a long time since someone had challenged him so directly. The King of Heroes openly showed his delight at Arcueid's defiance.

"You're acting so confident, but really? At this distance, it's an easy thing for me to slice your throat."

Arcueid, in contrast, only had her own body as a weapon.

However, the physical prowess a True Ancestor vampire unleashes is overwhelming. It would be easy for her to leap into the King of Heroes' space and rip out his throat with her claws in a single breath.

And above all, she possesses the unique ability of a True Ancestor: Marble Phantasm.

"You speak bravely, but is that truly the case? You seem to be considerably weakened because you were killed once, no, 'broken,' from the looks of it."

"..."

Arcueid maintained silence at the King of Heroes' observation.

After all, the fact that she was killed and broken by Tohno Shiki was true.

The staring contest continued, but it was the King of Heroes who brought it to an end.

"Well, very well. The last fool who spoke such words was during the war over that Grail. Normally, tearing you into eight pieces still wouldn't be enough, but tonight, I am the audience. I shall refrain from the vulgar act of attacking the players before the curtain rises on the drama."

The King of Heroes called the verge of the entire town becoming a dead city due to the TATARI vampire a "drama." Furthermore, despite being the one who crossed Arcueid's line first, he maintained his condescending attitude.

"That condescending attitude. This Goldie really is annoying," Arcueid said, sighing and expressing a similar sentiment to a certain twin-tailed girl.

"Naturally. Though the era is different, this planet where the mongrels reside is my garden."

"Even in your current state, where you can only manifest in this world within the 'frame' of a Servant? With a Master—probably some shady priest with a weird thing in his heart—I wonder how you can say such a thing?"

Arcueid added a layer of irony, implying that he wouldn't be here without that "mongrel" Master, but

"Hah, that's wrong. I was not summoned by the mongrels of this age; I came myself!" the King of Heroes declared with the most smug expression possible.

"What is with this positive way of thinking? I'm learning a lot of interesting things about humans, but you're the first person I've met whose thought process is so completely blown away..." Arcueid complained with a hint of resignation.

"Hah, that human you are so fond of also has an interesting way of thinking, though in a different sense than mine."

"..."

"I won't deny it. But the very fact that you, Goldie, are talking about Shiki's inner self is irritating."

The King of Heroes spoke of Tohno Shiki's inner self. The listener, perhaps having a sense of recognition, offered no denial.

"Do not be angered. I am praising him, despite everything. He is one of the few mongrels in this world of fakes whom I can find value in."

After saying those words, he turned and prepared to leave the spot.

"Now, I am a little sleepy as well. Let us call it a night. I look forward to the drama that will be held tomorrow night..."

Having finished speaking, the King of Heroes vanished from the spot along with the particles of light.

"..................How selfish," Arcueid, left behind, summarized her impression of the person she had just conversed with for a short time.

After all, he described what the TATARI vampire was about to do as a "drama" and declared that he would merely watch as an audience member.

It was impossible to hold a positive impression of a being who would declare such a thing.

"Well, fine. As long as he doesn't interfere... All that's left is..."

She turned back to face the tall building where the TATARI would likely appear.

However, the demonic scent or presence unique to the vampire was becoming more concentrated, and Arcueid was certain that the day of the final confrontation was drawing near.