Chapter 55: Day 10 ⑨

"By 'discarding,' you mean... terminating the contract with Lia?"

"Yes, exactly. The choice you have to make is whether or not to terminate that contract. Even if you choose to maintain it, I will explain what measures are needed for Magical Energy replenishment. So, Shirou, decide for yourself."

Tohsaka was staring straight at me. Beside her, Alto was watching me with equal intensity.

"…………"

To be honest, I couldn't see any merit in terminating it. Without a Master, a Servant cannot remain manifested for long. This is because the Master serves as the 'anchor' (wedge) that keeps them tied to this world, regardless of their remaining Prana.

Both Tohsaka and Alto must be well aware of that. Therefore, I assumed they had a plan, even if I didn't know the details yet. As for the replenishment of Magical Energy, I could assume that issue would be resolved whichever path I chose. Alto would never intentionally put Lia in a dire situation—of that much, I was certain.

Personally, I felt things should just stay as they were. The thought of being told to terminate the contract without a detailed explanation gave me pause.

However, there had to be a separate reason. Those two weren't the type to bring this up without explanation or purpose. I had to recall what had been said to me.

Both Alto and Tohsaka had said they "couldn't trust Emiya Shirou" regarding recent events. On top of that, they claimed my impulsive actions were detrimental to the alliance and that there was no prospect for improvement.

Normally, the problem would be solved if I just fixed my behavior, but if I encountered a similar situation again, I lacked the confidence to say I could restrain myself. I regretted it and intended to be careful, but I didn't think I could fundamentally change. Not that I was making excuses, but I believed that was the "correct way of being" for Emiya Shirou.

If Tohsaka simply wanted to avoid the disadvantages caused by me, she could just dissolve the alliance. Between her and Alto, they could do their best with their current combat power without extra worries. But the fact that she was forcing this choice on me meant that losing Lia and me would result in a fatal drop in combat strength, and one more thing...

"If I do terminate it, will Lia's Magical Energy be alright?"

I had to ask at least that much for confirmation. Upon my question, Tohsaka gestured toward Alto with her eyes.

"Yes. For the time being, we will substitute it using Rin’s jewels."

"...You're not saying Tohsaka is going to form a contract with her, are you?"

"Even for Rin, it is impossible to command two Servants simultaneously. Maintaining their existence might be possible, but considering the battles ahead, it would be nothing short of reckless."

That question was the minimum I had to ask—and likely the only inquiry I was permitted.

Alto stepped back quietly behind Tohsaka and closed his eyes. His demeanor seemed to signal that the rest was a conversation for Masters to have. I faced Tohsaka squarely, reaffirming my resolve.

"...Then, I think terminating the contract with Lia is unavoidable. I’m the cause of what happened. The fact that the Mana Path (line) isn't connecting is my problem too. Either way, Lia won't get better like this. Besides, if you and Alto say so, I believe you have a plan. Lia might get angry at me for terminating the contract without her consent, but since it's my fault, I’ll apologize and ask for her forgiveness."

At my words, Tohsaka took a sharp breath, appearing genuinely surprised. Alto gave a single, small stir.

"I know I'm the one who brought this up, but... are you really okay with that, Emiya-kun?"

"...I'm not exactly 'okay' with it. But you wouldn't let things end up badly, right, Rin?"

Tohsaka, who had been looking at me dubiously, froze with wide eyes. Then, she averted her gaze and began fiddling with her hair.

"Well, that's true, but... I thought you'd bombard me with more questions."

I did feel like I wanted to hear everything from start to finish. But I had enough clues to deduce the situation. I couldn't just abandon thinking and rely on others by asking questions all the time. I've realized how thoughtless I’ve been through this whole ordeal. If I can't at least grasp the situation, I'll truly be nothing but dead weight.

"But I understand your answer, Emiya-kun. From now on, we won't think as 'two pairs,' but as a single 'team.' So that 'we' can survive until the end against the remaining Masters and Servants, and that man called Gilgamesh. Fortunately, since it seems neither you, I, nor Alto have a wish for the Holy Grail, we shouldn't have any internal conflicts."

Surely, the other reason she forced this choice on me was to test my resolve—to see if I, who had acted against her advice, still trusted them. And whether I had enough trust to entrust Lia to her.

In order to cooperate, she was implicitly asking if I could respect their intentions and if I was worthy of trust.

If I hadn't been able to terminate the contract, Tohsaka might have declared the alliance dissolved. Given my failures, I couldn't have blamed her.

But since she said she would teach me the 'measures' for transferring Magical Energy even if the contract was discarded, Tohsaka really is an honorable and good person.

"Um, Rin. Is it alright if I come in here?"

Noticing a voice from behind, I turned to see Illya peeking through the slightly open sliding door.

"Oh, Illya? Are you sure you shouldn't be sleeping?"

"That's right. Your injuries aren't light, so you should be in bed. We can discuss the details tonight."

Setting aside the injuries, her mental fatigue must be immense. She lost the Servant who was likely her support and is being targeted by a man with the absurd power of Gilgamesh. Though she's acting tough, Illya’s eyes are actually a bit red. Seeing that, I felt a pang of guilt, remembering when I laid her down in the futon.

"But even if you tell me to sleep, I can't rest easy when there’s such a loud shouting match going on."

Alto opened the sliding door and placed a cushion for her; Illya sat down daintily. Seeing her grimace every time her arm moved, it was clear that her shoulder wound would take a long time to fully heal.

"So? How far did the conversation get? And—which one did Shirou choose?"

"The talk is mostly finished. From now on, the members here are going to fight the Holy Grail War together."

With that, Tohsaka looked around the room. She shifted her gaze from me to Alto, then to the sleeping Lia, and finally back to Illya.

"...? By 'members here,' you mean Illya too?"

"Yes, exactly. When facing a monster like that, we have to use every resource available."

Hearing that, Illya puffed out her cheeks.

"A 'resource'? Rin, I don't like being referred to like that."

"It was just a bit of light banter. My bad. Don't take it seriously."

"...Fine then."

Tohsaka apologized sincerely with a wry smile. Illya glared at her with a pout. It was good to see they were clearly on friendly terms, but...

"Wait... are you okay with that, Illya? You might be put in danger again."

There was no guarantee she wouldn't face something like that again. I intended to shelter and protect her, but fighting together was a different story.

"Is Shirou worried about me?"

"Of course I am."

"Hehe. Thanks. But I'll be fine. You saved me, so this time, I'm going to save Shirou."

"No, I didn't mean it like that..."

Part of it was her health, but mostly, I just didn't want to see such a small child on the battlefield. Even if I knew that, unlike me, she was a Magus so superior it would be insulting to compare us.

"Alright, alright, leave it at that. Emiya-kun, if she says she'll help, just be humble and accept the favor."

...I had more to say, but something suddenly occurred to me, forcing me to swallow my words.

"'Help' us... Tohsaka, you don't mean..."

"Finally noticed? Yes. It's exactly as you're thinking. We are going to transfer the Master Rights of Lia from you to Illya."

"..."

"Oh, and you don't have to worry about betrayal from her. Illya realizes she’s already been defeated in this Holy Grail War by that goldie, and more than that, she says she wants to help you. You're quite popular—I'm jealous. Hehe."

Tohsaka leaned close to my ear to whisper something, but unfortunately, it didn't register in my brain.

So there was a way like that... Certainly, for combat efficiency, it made sense, but it still felt complicated.

This meant that the long conversation the two of them had before Illya fell asleep was already about her and the future outlook. I really need to start thinking a bit further ahead before I act.

"!"

Suddenly, Tohsaka, who was whispering in my ear, froze. Then she turned sharply and glared at the wall. No, her awareness was focused far beyond the wall.

I thought it was an attack, but the Bounded Field set up around the mansion for intruders didn't trigger. Since that reacts to hostile intent, it likely wasn't a direct assault on this location.

"Tohsaka, what's wrong?"

After a few seconds, the tension broke, but Tohsaka covered her face with her right hand and didn't move. She didn't answer my question either.

Alto and Illya could only watch her, unsure of what to do. Of course, I remained standing there just as still. I couldn't move recklessly until the cause was clear.

After a while, Tohsaka finally turned her face toward us. She spoke with a look of urgency, as if something grave had happened.

"I don't know how else to say this, but it's bad news. It seems Caster and Kuzuki-sensei were attacked. And it was less than ten minutes after they parted ways with us."

"Is that true!?"

I was dazed at the time so I don't remember well, but both Lia and Alto were fine then. If there had been an abnormality, we should have noticed...

While I was processing this, Tohsaka raised her voice toward Alto.

"Alto! Did you sense any other Servant presence at that time?"

"...N-no. Besides Lia and Caster, I didn't sense any Servant presence at all..."

Alto's voice lacked strength; he was at a loss for words. He stared at Tohsaka as if something impossible had occurred.

Come to think of it, if there was no presence...

"Hey, Tohsaka. Could it be that Gilgamesh guy?"

"T-true, Gilgamesh didn't have a Servant presence, but..."

At mine and Alto's words, Illya trembled. The fear likely hadn't left her. I thought I might have been inconsiderate, but if we didn't list the possibilities, we couldn't form a countermeasure.

"No. It’s hard to get the full picture, but apparently, it didn't even have a human shape. They described it only as a 'black shadow' shaped like an umbrella..."

If that's the case, is it not a Servant after all? If we knew the method of attack, we might understand what it is...

"Are Kuzuki-sensei and Caster safe?"

"Ah, right. ...The story is so bizarre that I think I’m a bit shaken too."

Tohsaka closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. She was likely re-organizing the information swirling in her head.

"For now, it seems neither Caster nor Kuzuki-sensei sustained fatal wounds. However, while they were escaping, Kuzuki-sensei shielded Caster, and because of that, his right arm was severed from below the shoulder. Caster said it turned black and underwent necrosis instantly. They managed to retreat after that, and the bare minimum of first aid is finished. Right now, they’re short on Prana, so they’re taking refuge near my house to draw Prana from the Leylines."

The same Caster who had set up her base at Ryuudou Temple had retreated?

She possessed vast magical knowledge and a wealth of Prana, and Ryuudou Temple was surrounded by a powerful Bounded Field. Even though Assassin had been defeated and the gate was unguarded, it wasn't a place that could be stormed by just any force.

"I-I see. Kuzuki-sensei’s right arm... But I'm glad they’re at least alive. Then, it would be better if they joined up with us..."

"I thought so too and made the offer... but it seems the opponent is quite bizarre. It supposedly slipped through Caster’s Magecraft as if it weren't even there. Moreover, it seems to be targeting Caster more than Kuzuki-sensei, so she declined, saying that gathering Servants in one place might just make us a target. Caster sent a message: 'Even if Saber and Archer are both present, if you encounter it, run from that place with all your might'..."

"…………"

Honestly, I can't even imagine it. Though it didn't work on Lia and Alto, I’ve experienced Caster’s Magecraft firsthand.

A single one of those Mana Bolts could blow away a dozen people. And she can fire them almost without breathing. An existence that doesn't just nullify, but 'slips through' such absurdity...?

Think, Emiya Shirou. The only thing I can do right now, without power, is think. I have to make the image of the enemy as clear as possible from the available information, or Lia and Alto won't be able to fight when the time comes.

—Regarding the attack method of that black shadow, since Caster, who knows Lia and Alto’s abilities, told them to run immediately, it's likely not Magecraft. That leaves simple physical combat, or a more alien method of attack.

If it exceeds Lia and Alto in physical combat, then honestly, we have no chance of winning. Given that Kuzuki-sensei’s arm necrotized, the latter possibility is high...?

There’s the lack of information, but if Caster’s words are true, we can't establish a countermeasure at this point. Just because Magecraft doesn't work doesn't mean a sword or a Noble Phantasm will necessarily pass through either. ...It might be better to follow the advice and run.

"Things are starting to smell like trouble... dealing with that goldie was already enough of a headache."

"An incarnated eighth Servant, and an unidentified black shadow... They seem related to the Holy Grail War, but we don't know the clear objective of either. Gilgamesh is one thing since we could at least stand against him, but to me, that black shadow is far more eerie."

Looking around the room, for some reason, both Alto and Illya had stiff expressions, as if driven by a sense of impending doom. Alto looked down, seemingly lost in deep thought, while Illya stood up and placed her hand on her chest, looking restless.

For a while after that, no one spoke, and only Lia’s heavy, sleeping breaths echoed through the room.