Chapter 9: Day 4 ②

It must have been past two in the morning. It was a time when the sounds of life were barely audible.

Standing still in the church grounds, a place where people, birds, and animals—in fact, all moving things—seemed to have been utterly excluded.

Neither Saber nor I moved. We stood with our backs against the wall, on either side of the church entrance. We simply stood together, not unnecessarily interfering with each other.

There was no change. There was no need for change. It was as if we had wandered into a painting or a photograph.

I used this blank space of time to ponder the Holy Grail War that had begun.

Following Rin’s instructions, moving things forward and dealing with circumstances as they arose. This policy, decided on the first day, sounds good, but what I mean by it is the abandonment of thought. I felt this keenly when I fought Lancer and stood in that place of mutual killing. We managed to get through it this time, but it’s clear that if I, who is inferior in experience, proceed without any plan, I will eventually make a massive mistake.

And if we continue by inertia like this, Shiro, Rin, I, and Saber will fall. That cannot happen. Whatever it takes, that is the one thing we must prevent. Therefore, I must think as much as possible.

...I never want to lose Saber again.

"---Archer, you..."

A voice reached my ears as I stood with my eyes closed, gazing downward, lost in thought.

I opened my eyes. As I slowly turned my face in that direction, I saw Saber facing towards me.

Saber had spoken to me. I was so deep in thought that it took me a moment to realize that it was Saber who had called out.

Saber did not look at me; she opened her mouth and closed it again, as if finding it difficult to speak. This was unusually rare for someone as earnest as her, who always spoke her mind clearly. What was Saber trying to tell me, resorting to such an attitude? The things I could think of at this moment were... few.

I, too, pushed myself away from the wall I had been leaning against and faced Saber. I felt that this was not a conversation that should be heard while leaning against a wall.

As I turned to face her squarely, Saber also resolved herself and looked at me. I doubt she harbors any hostility, but for some reason, she looked at me as if she were piercing me with her gaze. In a stare-down, I waited for Saber’s words.

"---Are you truly Artoria Pendragon?"

That single sentence. The impact was like being hit on the head with a hammer. My vision, my thoughts, went completely blank.

No, wait, what did Saber just say...? Could she be so quickly convinced that I am not Saber?

...My appearance. My eye color and the color of my clothes are different. These are differences that make it impossible to say we are the same person, and they could be considered decisive. However, given the enormous difference that I was summoned as Archer, I should be able to ignore them for lack of evidence that they are the cause.

I have concerns about my combat ability, but we only clashed swords once at the very beginning. My subtle movements are not perfect either. But there haven't been many opportunities to show them.

And I didn't think I had done anything strange as Saber. Even the way I speak, which would normally be the most suspicious point, is bound by a Command Spell to be Saber's.

What did I fail at?

I don't know. Where is it? What did I overlook?

Questions raced through my head. I thought and thought, but I couldn't figure it out. We had only met a few hours ago, and during that time, I had kept silent, avoiding conversation as much as possible.

"Are you the King Arthur who is an extension of me...?"

"Saber. What are you---?"

Saber did not stop, even at my words.

"You say your True Name is King Arthur. But you are different. There must be a fundamental difference between you and me. Yes, you are unlike me. You are different from me, who still seeks the Holy Grail as King Arthur."

"---What?"

I couldn't speak. I could only freeze, stunned by Saber's words.

"Archer. No, Artoria. You abandoned Britain---. ...No, I apologize. This is my business. It was not something I should have asked. Please, forget it."

Saber was terribly serious, but in the end, she never fully posed her question.

She apologized for her statement and turned her gaze and body away again, as she had before. There were no further words.

"............"

Did she notice? No, if she did, it wouldn't be a reason to stop her questioning midway.

But Saber undeniably noticed a difference in me. She understood that I was a different existence from herself. I had predicted that Saber would notice, before too long.

---Yes, I thought I would eventually slip up, but I didn't expect it to happen this quickly.

Silence enveloped the surroundings once more. I faced forward and closed my eyes. Saber showed no sign of speaking any further.

---In the end, I remained silent and could not answer anything.

Any thoughts about future prospects that I had been pondering moments ago had completely vanished from my mind. In less than three hours since my encounter with Saber, I was consumed by my past actions and future anxieties.

Saber and I waited in silence with our backs against the wall for our Master to return.

When Rin and Shiro emerged from the church doors with a creaking sound, Saber, who hadn't moved an inch since our earlier conversation, walked up to Shiro.

"Shiro, are you finished talking?"

"Yeah, I heard it. All of it, until I was sick of it."

Shiro's face had been strained, but he smiled with relief upon seeing Saber approach.

"Then---"

"Yeah. I'm participating in the Holy Grail War. I'll need to borrow your strength, Saber. Please take care of me from now on."

"Leave it to me. ---I am your sword. I shall bring you victory."

Hearing this, Shiro abruptly extended his right hand to Saber. Saber stared at his hand expressionlessly.

"I wanted to shake hands to say, 'Please take care of me from now on.' Was that not okay?"

"Ah, yes. I look forward to working with you, Shiro."

Saber responded in surprise. The two shook hands.

"Archer? What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

I remained standing, watching the two of them. Rin, finding me suspicious for not moving near the entrance, walked over to my side.

I must not. If I dwell on it for too long, they might grow suspicious again.

"Even so, those two... I mean, I can't look at them."

"And by that, you mean?"

Shaking off my thoughts, I asked Rin back. They look friendly; I don't see anything embarrassing about it.

"Nothing in particular. I just felt that way."

We left the church gate, lining up as we had on the way in. As we walked down the hill, Rin spoke to Shiro.

"Oh, right. Emiya-kun, I'll let it slide today, but be prepared starting tomorrow."

"Huh? Prepared for what? What do I need to be prepared for?"

"For what...? Did you even listen to the conversation properly? Why do you think I had you meet the supervisor? You need to be prepared to fight me and the other Masters. In other words, do you understand that you and I will be enemies starting tomorrow?"

Shiro's mouth initially hung open like an idiot with a "Huh?" Then, realizing the meaning, he made an indescribable expression, furrowing his brows.

"Oh, right. That's how it's going to be. But I have absolutely no intention of fighting you, Tohsaka."

"You have to fight until only one person is left anyway, so you can't be so relaxed. Well, since I took you to the church, you and I are equals in terms of conditions. Now I can fight without hesitation."

"..."

Shiro stopped walking and fell silent, so we also stopped to follow his lead. He was staring far up, groaning as if thinking about something.

"What is it? Is something wrong?"

"Nah, I was just thinking that Tohsaka is really kind. I like people like you."

"Wha---!"

Rin's face flushed, and she fell silent. Saber stared at Shiro expressionlessly.

As for me, my face was red, and I covered my mouth with my hand, looking down. Even though I had said something similar before, hearing it from the side felt strangely embarrassing.

"Hey, are you done talking?"

Faster than I could think, I stood between Rin and the speaker. I glanced sideways and saw Saber also standing in front of Shiro, ready to react instantly.

The voice came from up the slope. It was high-pitched, still retaining a trace of youthfulness.

"Who are you!"

Saber shouted.

Looking up the slope, there indeed stood the dark-skinned giant, Berserker. The silver hair of the girl on the giant's shoulder glittered in the moonlight.

We were being pressured. Even though Berserker was merely standing. Because of his massive size, the road we had been walking abreast felt terribly narrow for the four of us.

"Good evening, Big Brother."

Ilya, who had jumped down from Berserker's shoulder, curtsied by holding the hem of her dress. Her words were out of place for the situation. A guileless voice that did not suit the suffocating pressure exerted by Berserker.

"That yellow one is Big Brother's Servant, right?"

Ilya glanced at Saber and questioned Shiro. Then she moved her gaze, piercing Rin with her red eyes.

"Pleased to meet you. My name is Ilya. Illyasviel von Einzbern."

"Einzbern---"

"Yes, that's right. The current head of the Tohsaka."

Rin's body trembled slightly.

I remember hearing about this from Tohsaka. Einzbern, Makiri, Tohsaka---. That the ancestors of these respective families created this Holy Grail War. Therefore, it made sense that Tohsaka would recall the Einzbern name, and that Ilya knew Tohsaka's name.

"Well then, the greetings are over. Kill them! Berserker!"

"■■■■■■■■ーーーーーー!!"

Berserker's roar shook the very atmosphere. The pressure was tremendous, amplified by the sheer volume of his voice.

However, this was not the first time I had faced that thing. It seemed my body did not shrink back this time.

"...Saber. It will be difficult to handle that thing alone."

"I agree. Archer, for this situation, let's form a temporary alliance."

We couldn't just keep being overwhelmed by the roaring Berserker. I called out to Saber beside me, never taking my eyes off the figure. Sensing a power far exceeding that of other Servants from his sheer presence, Saber also accepted the proposition of a two-on-one fight.

Saber cast off her rain gear. Simultaneously, I finished my battle equipment.

---Blue-silver armor reflecting the moonlight. An invisible sword in her hand. Blue crests and red crests marked on the armor. Emerald eyes and dark brown eyes. The blue and red of the clothes they wear. Excluding these differences in color, the two Servants, like reflections in a mirror, stood ready. Saber and I, as Archer, faced Berserker with the same stance.

"Are both of you the same Heroic Spirit!?"

Ilya's surprised voice echoed in the dark night. Both Masters, Rin and Shiro, were speechless at our synchronized movement, which was too coordinated to be merely called teamwork.

"■■■■■ーーーー!!"

Ignoring the shocked and motionless Masters, Berserker brought his massive axe-sword down towards us.

The rock axe-sword rushed down with a roar. Combined with its speed and size, it felt like a gigantic mass of iron was descending.

Saber and I scattered to the left and right to avoid that blow.

Immediately after, a destructive sound that resonated in our stomachs boomed, and a great tremor ran through the asphalt ground. Looking at the point of impact, it was cracked and deeply cratered.

The force was lethal if we took even one hit. Even if we were lucky enough to avoid a fatal blow, it was clearly going to be a decisive strike.

But Saber showed not a fragment of fear against such raw power. She cut straight toward Berserker, who was in the state of having just brought his axe-sword down, moving at the speed of a bullet.

I am not yet able to maneuver like Saber. My ability to cope with Berserker's attacks is also an unknown factor. I will move to distract him, while also observing. I ran past Saber's side, drawing a large circle.

...Last time, the location was advantageous for Berserker with no cover. That forced Saber into a difficult fight.

Therefore, this time, we will strike Berserker in a place advantageous to us. Even with two of us, no restraint is necessary against Berserker. Saber must have arrived at the same idea, as we moved in perfect synchronization without any discussion, beginning to toy with Berserker.

I widely evaded the attacks, and Saber moved her location by seeming to be pushed back by Berserker's blows. Berserker was completely led on by our movements, relentlessly chasing after us.

The distance to the chosen battlefield was not far at all.

Looking behind me, I could see Rin and Shiro climbing the slope far behind Berserker.