Chapter 4: Day 2 ②

After that, I walked around quite a bit, but there was nothing of note in the area.

The only time I felt a chill was when I approached the area of the New City Park, which has been a burnt field for ten years. It seems that this whole area is a gathering point for unwholesome things. Saber’s body appears to be sensitive to such things, and as Emiya Shirou, this is not a place I want to linger.

At that time, Rin had sensed someone's gaze, but it seemed to disappear as we walked around.

And now, we are passing through the street, heading towards the development district lined with buildings. As soon as we entered a certain block, Rin and I immediately noticed the abnormality.

"Archer, can you tell?"

"Yes. The way the magical energy is unbalanced in this area is strange."

As we proceeded, I felt the concentration of magical energy getting stronger.

Is it because I’m in Saber’s body? I was able to understand the flow of magical energy in the same way one can discern which direction the wind is blowing. When I was Emiya Shirou, I couldn't even detect anything weak, and even if I could, I couldn't pinpoint the direction it was flowing. Even when I, as Emiya Shirou, was near here last time, I didn't feel this sensation at all.

"The source of the flow is here. Archer, follow me."

Rin suddenly stopped in front of a skyscraper and entered without hesitation.

Indeed, the magical energy is flowing from this building... I wonder if it’s okay to just go in. I followed her, feeling a little hesitant.

Now that I think about it, I'm sure I saw Rin on the rooftop of this very building. Perhaps she was gathering information at that time. There's no way to confirm it now, though.

She abruptly opened the door to a room a few floors up. The magical residue on this floor alone was incredible. As soon as the door opened, it began to flow outside.

Inside, several people who looked like cleaning staff were lying on the floor, weak and collapsed. Their bodies were convulsing, and all of them had their consciousness reaped. It was clear that they were in a dangerous state.

"This is... they have hardly any vitality left. It must have been drained."

"—Kuh."

Only Caster could do something like this. It seems all of them are still breathing, but given their state, if we had been delayed in finding them, people would have died.

Last time, the news reported a mass fainting incident. I knew about it, yet did I overlook the danger to these people twice?

"Archer, do you sense the presence of any other Servants?"

"No, I don't feel any nearby."

"I see."

"...Rin, what are you going to do about these people?"

I stared intently at Rin. Surely, she wouldn't abandon them.

"I have no choice but to give them some first aid."

Saying that, Rin rolled up her sleeves. She began administering magical emergency treatment, starting with the people who seemed to be in the most danger.

After finishing the treatment, we called an ambulance. It should arrive soon.

The treatment took a considerable amount of time, and it was completely dark outside.

"Phew. Well then, shall we go to the rooftop?"

"The rooftop? Is there something there?"

"If you have a bird's-eye view of the city, it’s easier to read the flow of magical energy, right?"

"I see."

We climbed a few flights of stairs, and Rin stopped in front of the door leading to the rooftop. It appeared to be locked, but instead of chanting an unlocking spell, she pointed to the lock above the doorknob.

"Archer, do this for me, please."

I immediately realized what she meant. She must want to conserve her magical energy since she had to use some for the emergency treatment. Although I wasn't particularly eager, I figured it might be a good idea to confirm what I was capable of.

What I called forth in my mind was not a Noble Phantasm, but a commonplace short sword. It was a forged item with nothing remarkable about its structure or material.

"—Hmph!"

I brought my right hand down towards the lock, projected the short sword the instant of impact, and immediately erased it.

A heavy Gyari, Gakon sound echoed on the stairs. A not-so-shallow line was etched around the lock area.

...The door should open with this. However, since it can't be locked again, the entire door will probably have to be replaced.

Hmm. Even so, my Magecraft seems to be in quite, or rather, very good condition.

My circuits are also working incomparably better than before. I feel confident that I could lightly construct anything short of something monumental. And just as I thought: even if the weapon was nothing more than a short sword, if I combine the strength and speed of Saber’s body reinforced with magical energy, I can cut through metal. Since I don't possess a technique for cutting steel myself, I must have accomplished it purely through my physical specs.

We stepped out onto the rooftop. The wind was strong, likely because we were far from the ground. Although it was tied up, my long hair was flapping and a bit bothersome.

Was it beneath here that I saw Rin last time? I should probably make sure Shirou can't see me, just in case.

Having decided that, I stood three steps behind Rin and waited. To an outsider, we would appear to be in the positions of a master and a subordinate.

"No good. There was a strong magical residue in that room earlier, but..."

"It appears so. The trail seems to have completely stopped at this building."

Perhaps because we were high up, the wind was blowing harder than when we were walking below. Rin and I silently looked out over the city, but nothing changed.

"By the way, Archer. Why are you standing so far away? It'll be hard to perceive anything from there, especially after coming all the way up. Why don't you come closer?"

"Since I cannot become a spiritual body, wouldn't people on the ground find it suspicious to see someone standing here?"

"How many meters are we above the ground? There's no way anyone can see us from below."

Saying that, Rin walked to the edge of the rooftop. Despite the considerable height, she leaned over to look down.

"Eh? Emiya, Shirou—?"

"....What is it?"

As I suspected, it must have been today that I looked up at this building and saw Tohsaka.

"No, it's just someone I know... But I doubt he can see me from over there."

She immediately fell silent. She furrowed her brows and glared at the direction she had been looking.

...She seems to be deep in thought, but staying here for too long isn't a good idea. The wind is strong at this height. I wonder how much the perceived temperature has dropped. It might be fine in summer, but in February, it’s just cold.

"Rin, are you alright? Your face is slightly flushed, perhaps due to the cold."

"Huh, is it?"

Saying, "I'm wearing a coat, so I'm not really cold," Rin rubbed her cheeks with both hands.

"However, the wind is strong here. I recommend we move to a different location if you have no further business."

"You're right. Well, let's head back for today then."

She said that, but instead of walking, she placed a hand under her chin and fell silent again.

Seeing her state, I stopped my advancing foot just in time.

"Rin?"

"The area downstairs is probably packed with ambulances and police, right? What should we do..."

"..."

Rin has a tendency to make silly mistakes in strange places. What's more, they seem to happen at crucial moments.

Hmm. My body is impossibly overflowing with magical energy, and I am also receiving magical energy supply from Rin. I recall Saber climbing a building when she fought Rider before, so descending shouldn't be a problem, I think.

It might be like saying that since we were able to climb up the stairs, it's fine to jump out of the window three floors up, but...

...Still, my perception that I can support Rin and jump down safely if I use my magical energy to further enhance Saber's physical abilities hasn't changed. I don't know if this conviction comes from the experiences of Saber that flashed through my mind during the summoning, but I have a strange certainty that I can do it.

"Rin, let's jump from here. I will support you."

"Alright, I'm counting on you."

Rin jumped out without hesitation, gaining momentum. I followed suit, supporting Rin as we fell. I embraced her body and released magical energy just before landing. We successfully landed on the ground, having killed our speed.

...I actually did it. Well, if I hadn't, I don't know what would have happened.

"Rin, what about dinner?"

I asked about something that had been bothering me on the way back. The unfortunate truth was that when it came to mealtimes, about half of my thoughts were drawn to the cooking smells wafting from the surrounding houses.

"Hmm, let's see. Archer, can you cook other things?"

I can. But unfortunately, my cooking is mostly Japanese cuisine. It would certainly be suspicious for a King from Western Europe to suddenly be able to make Japanese food. I have some Western recipes, including ones I learned from Sakura, but I'm somehow uneasy about them.

"I can cook most simple things, but for anything elaborate, I'd need to consult a cookbook..."

"Then I'll cook today. How about we take turns cooking? You're going to eat it too, so you don't mind, right?"

"Yes. If that's the case, I understand. Leave it to me."

"Right. Judging by the scrambled eggs this morning, I can't say for sure, but you don't seem totally incompetent, do you?"

Rin threw a provocative look at me as she spoke.

—Oh? She's judging me as a king and looking down on me based only on the morning's cooking. If she says that much, I'll surprise her. I know Rin's skill, and I admit she's good. But when it comes to cooking, I won't lose so easily.

I remembered that the refrigerator was empty, so we headed to the shopping district. It was late enough that we should be able to catch the time sale. Ingredients should be cheap.

"...! It's delicious..."

"I know. It makes the cook happy to see you enjoy it."

At the words that slipped out, Rin looked at me with a grinning smile.

Tonight's dinner was Chinjao Rosu (Stir-fried Shredded Pork with Green Peppers), Chinese soup with egg and green onion, and fried rice with lettuce.

Rin attacked with her specialty, Chinese cuisine. This particular menu is frankly not that difficult. If I had the seasonings, even I, who specializes in Japanese food, could make it without looking at a recipe.

Yet, tasting it, everything felt incredibly fresh and new. This was despite the fact that I had eaten food made by Tohsaka—I’ll call the Rin from the previous world Tohsaka to avoid confusion—before.

I feel like it's no wonder Saber is such a glutton. Modern food must have been a revolution for Saber's palate. That must be why the simple, toasted bread I ate this morning tasted so wonderfully delicious.

After finishing eating, I made tea while waiting for Rin to finish the dishes. I handed the cup of tea with the saucer to Rin, who was sitting on the sofa.

"Thanks."

I sat down on the sofa opposite Rin with my own cup of tea. The tea placed in front of both of us was steaming.

"By the way, Archer, there's something I want to ask. Since you hold the Archer class, does that mean you can use a bow or maybe projectiles?"

"...Projectiles, you say. I haven't tried it, but I might be able to, or I might not."

"Might be able to? Not 'do' or 'do not'?"

"Yes. If I change the way I use the power I possess."

That, of course, referred to my Projection Magecraft. It was a method I thought of after projecting the short sword when I became Saber. Well, it was simply to launch the sword toward the opponent instead of just manifesting it in my hand. It was a method I couldn't use when I was Emiya Shirou because it took too long to project a single item.

...Also, it seems Invisible Air (Wind King Barrier) allows for long-range attacks. But since it can only be used when released and doesn't have the range to be called a projectile, I feel like it still doesn't count as a 'projectile'.

"Well, things we don't know if we can do shouldn't be factored into the plan... So, is close combat still going to be your primary focus?"

"It will be."

"And... could I see your weapon?"

Weapon...

Given that my Projection Magecraft will likely cause trouble when I interact with Shirou later, I can't just talk about it openly. Naturally, even if the method I mentioned earlier can be used, I would only be able to use it if I was prepared to reveal my true identity.

That leaves Saber's Invisible Air (Wind King Barrier) and Excalibur (Sword of Promised Victory).

Can I use them? Or rather, can I even manifest them?

If it's only Excalibur, at the very worst, I might be able to substitute it with Projection Magecraft. But I'm not sure about Invisible Air. After all, what I'd be trying to project wouldn't be a sword, but the sheath for Excalibur. And that is closer to a form of sorcery. Since I have Saber's body, I feel like it shouldn't be impossible to manifest it.

"Then, I will try it out briefly."

Just in case, I equipped my combat gear. This battle-ready appearance makes it easier to summon the image of the sword. I concentrated my mind and pictured the sword. The process is similar to Projection Magecraft, but it seems correct for manifesting the armament.

"...I managed to manifest it."

"Huh? You manifested something, but there's nothing there? I can tell that something is being woven by magical energy, but..."

In that sense, I was able to summon the sword, just as I could materialize the armor. I certainly can't see it, but it is definitely here. The sword I'm gripping with both hands has a definite texture and weight.

"You won't be able to see it, but it certainly exists in my hands right now. Is there anything I can cut that won't cause trouble?"

"Wait a moment."

Saying that, Rin left the room and returned with an old, thick phone book in her right hand.

"Is this okay?"

"It is fine. Please throw it here."

The phone book was tossed in an arc. I immediately sliced it in half. Since I still had room to move after the swing, I managed to cut it three or four more times with a reverse stroke before it fell.

The shredded phone book fell to the floor with a basabasa sound.

"Wow. That's incredible. The sharpness, yes, but the sword itself must have its magical energy compressed and concealed... It's a block of mystery, yet I can't sense it at all. By the way, I can't see it at all, but how long is the blade?"

"Let's see, well..."

—Synchronisation, initiate.

—Analysis complete.

I see, it's roughly 90 centimeters. I opened my hands widely. Is that about right?

"Hmm. I wonder what the principle behind its invisibility is?"

I believe that was a thought she mumbled to herself, not a question directed at me. She remained silent, thinking with a serious expression for a while. I took a sip of my tea and simply waited for Rin to speak again.

"Judging from your status and Magic Resistance skill that I have grasped, you're practically unbeatable in close combat. I can hardly believe this belongs to an Archer, and if you had been summoned as Saber, I wonder if things would have been even more amazing. Well, I have some knowledge of self-defense, but not enough to gauge your true strength, so I can't say for sure. But with that invisible sword, you undoubtedly have a huge advantage in close combat. Given the True Name of King Arthur and the sheer amount of magical energy I feel from you, wouldn't it be fair to call you the strongest?"

"Rin, overconfidence is forbidden."

Certainly, by empathizing with and reading the sword's experience, I can mimic Saber's movements, albeit artificially. However, I myself am still at an apprentice level in Saber's swordsmanship. Against a Heroic Spirit, high physical ability doesn't automatically equate to being strong.

—Besides, there are Berserker and Gilgamesh.

Fighting them one-on-one seems reckless, even with Saber's body. In terms of pure strength, I cannot compare with Hercules. And last time, with Gilgamesh, I barely managed to achieve a stalemate by mobilizing all my magical energy, but there is no guarantee I can do the same next time.

"What, Archer? Are you being modest?"

"No. As the true identities of the other Servants have yet to be revealed, we should guard against complacency."

"Well, you're right. It's still just the beginning. At least I now understand your means of combat, so I will give some thought to our strategy."

"Please do."

"Well then, since I plan to gather information tomorrow as well, let's get some rest early."

"Understood."

It seems the discussion is over. I leaned back in the sofa and finished the remaining tea. I feel kind of tired. I know that since I'm a Servant, I don't need to sleep, but my spirit is more exhausted than my body. My brain must be craving rest for processing, as I am very sleepy.

"Hey. Speaking of which, what about a bath?"

"Eh?"

"Is a shower fine for today?"

I had forgotten... The sleepiness immediately vanished, and my eyes were fully open, completely defeated.

What should I do?! What should I do?! What am I going to do?!

I somehow managed to keep myself in check when changing clothes, but the bath is no good. ...I'd have to touch various things. You know... various things.

Because, well, I have to wash my body. That can't be helped. It's something that can't be helped, but still...

"Rin, the bath is fine. I'll skip it today."

I know I'm just putting off the problem, but for now, I need to prioritize maintaining my peace of mind.

"Absolutely not! You and I have been walking around outside, haven't we?"

Rin put her hands on her hips, looking quite displeased. Why is she so insistent on me taking a bath?

"There is absolutely no issue regarding that. Yes. I am a Servant, after all."

"Unfortunately, that's not an answer, Archer. Even if Servants don't produce waste products, since you're materialized, the sand and dust will still cling to you. If you don't take a bath, I won't let you set foot on my property."

"Wh-What! Rin! Are you telling me to die?!"

I was losing track of what I was saying.

Confusion has reached its peak. The degree of confusion in this very moment is definitely higher than when I was summoned here. I'm sad that I understand myself so well.

"Or, how about we take one together? Getting naked together to deepen our bond might not be a bad idea."

Rin approached me inch by inch. I retreated at the same speed so as not to let the distance close. Although what she said had a certain logic to it, I couldn't help but sense wicked intent in Rin's eyes.

And what's with the way her hands are wriggling?! What is she planning?!

I don't know. What is considered normal socializing between women? Maybe this much is common. But regardless, the suspicion that Rin might have that kind of inclination toward me had already surfaced in my mind. Thinking back, Tohsaka might have had a similar feeling towards Saber. The physical distance hadn't changed, but the emotional distance had widened infinitely.

"I-I'll take one alone!!"

I seized the opportunity and used Saber's full physical ability to flash-move to the bathroom. I desperately hoped that the "Tch!" sound I heard from behind the closed door was just my imagination. I knew I had to properly take a bath, or she might use that as an excuse to barge in, so I just focused on being mindless and somehow finished my bathing.

The fact remains that my fortress as a man seemed to be in a completely disadvantaged position.