Chapter 14: Sakura Remembers

A chill ran through her, so cold it felt as if her very soul were freezing.

She couldn't think of a single reason for it.

The air conditioning was perfect. In all of Sakura’s memory, she knew of no place more comfortable than this sanctuary constructed by Archer. Not only was it equipped with the latest modern technology, but Automata (Doll) monitored and adjusted the room temperature constantly. No, it’s not just the air conditioning. This building is lavishly outfitted with cutting-edge equipment far beyond what is commercially available. It should be impossible for her to be uncomfortable. There should be no reason for her to feel cold.

And yet, Sakura sat in the corner of the room, clutching her knees. The way her body shivered uncontrollably might only be rivaled by the times she recalled Zouken’s "lessons."

She tried to remember how she used to cope in times like this, then gave up. To begin with, in the past, she hadn't felt anything at all. Whether she was being toyed with or devoured by Crest Worms, she simply accepted whatever happened. Like a doll.

Just like that thing, Sakura thought, casting her gaze toward the other side of the room. There stood a beautiful blonde woman wearing an apron dress ill-suited for the modern era. However, her gaze was inorganic; though her eyes were fixed on Sakura, she did not truly "see" her. She was one of the Noble Phantasms Archer had pulled from his treasury. If the Noble Phantasm of Far-Sight was Sakura's favorite, then this Doll was her most hated.

A perfectly formed human figure in every respect, yet something that was not human. Somewhere in her heart, she associated the woman with Matou Zouken. Or perhaps it felt like looking in a mirror—a comparison she found unbearable.

Perhaps, in the past, she wouldn't have even had such a thought. In a sense, she had been far more doll-like than an actual puppet. A girl who had been stripped of all her rights—even the right to be with her family—and was valued less than a worm. To begin with, the concept of "belonging to oneself" did not exist for her. Her mind and body existed only to be consumed for the sake of the Matou family. For such a creature to hate a doll was a cruel irony. Now, I can almost laugh at myself, she thought.

Many things flashed through her mind. Memories of being submerged in the Worm Pit over and over again. At first, she likely screamed and cried. She couldn't remember when her voice finally gave out. By the end, she could no longer feel the Crest Worms through emotion, but only as a physical sensation.

She buried her face in her knees. She couldn't remember a single thing from the days when she was happy, yet these memories—the ones she wished to forget most—played on a loop.

It was all because of this chill.

This coldness—she realized it felt just like the Worm Pit. In that brief interval between the moment she began to give up and the moment she ceased to feel anything at all. Yes, this was exactly what she had felt then.

"Archer-san..."

The word slipped from her lips unexpectedly. She was slightly surprised that it wasn't a meaningless sound, but someone’s name.

At the very least, when Sakura lived in the Matou household, she never called out anyone’s name. In the beginning, she had begged her father, her mother, and her sister for help countless times, but those prayers were never answered. Kariya Matou, who became her family by law, was merely another victim suffering alongside her.

When in pain, she didn't call names. She knew that even if she called, no one would come to save her. There was no hope to hold onto. Therefore, she never spoke a name.

But Archer was different. He was the one who had first rescued her from that Worm Pit filled with agony. A man who stood alone, shining like gold, amidst a scene that looked like an artificial Hell—where a sea of flames scorched and burst the writhing worms. She would likely never forget that sight for as long as she lived.

Living together hadn't involved anything particularly special. He was away from home often, and even when he was there, they just ate normal meals and slept together. That was all. Yet, it felt like the "normal family" she had lost long ago—the thing she wanted most.

Now was not like the past. There was someone to help her. That was why she could call his name as if clinging to it.

Was that a good thing or a bad thing? It was likely a weakness. But as for how to stop herself from relying on him... Sakura was too weak, and Archer was too kind.

(It's okay...)

She chanted the words in her mind, bracing herself against the cold running down her spine.

Yes, it was okay. She was still weak and hadn't grown at all. But now, she had someone to rely on. As long as she had that, she could at least pretend to be strong.

And then—

RUMBLE…! RUMBLE…!

Suddenly, the sound of thunder rumbled continuously in the distance. BOOM! Then, the sounds of explosions began to mix with the rolling thunder.

She didn't know what was happening. But she knew with absolute certainty that staying seated was the worst thing she could do. Bolstered by that conviction, Sakura stood up. She retreated toward the center of the room near the table, looking around to be ready for whatever might happen. Her muscles, unaccustomed to such sudden movement, struggled to keep up, but she endured the feeling of nearly collapsing.

The sound grew louder and louder, and the chill increased accordingly. She continued her meaningless vigilance, scanning the room, when she noticed something. The Automatic Defense-type and Interception-type Noble Phantasms Archer had mentioned earlier—they had all been deployed.

And if the Noble Phantasms in this room had been activated, then it meant that those stationed throughout the entire building had also been deployed.

Sakura didn't truly understand what a Noble Phantasm was. She had only heard that even one possessed overwhelming power. And all of them had been deployed for interception? If she believed what she had been told, such a number wouldn't be necessary unless a Servant appeared.

This was no ordinary situation; it was a crisis. That much she understood. However, she didn't know what to do. Should she stay here, or should she flee immediately?

The sound of thunder and explosions finally became so loud that she wanted to cover her ears. Then, it stopped abruptly. The chill still lingered at its peak, but the sound had vanished.

A silence so terrifying it felt like a scream might leak from her throat if she let down her guard. It was broken by the faint creaking of the window.

"Ki..."

That was not a sound Sakura made. Nor was it the sound of the window rattling. It was a voice from the outside, leaking in—a voice that sounded hauntingly familiar.

Sakura backed away. One step back led to two, then three, as she stumbled away from the window.

Once she started retreating, her legs wouldn't stop. She only halted when she slammed into the door behind her. Even then, her feet continued to scramble, trying to pull back further.

"Kikikikikikikiki!"

As if rising from the bottom of hell—from the remains of that fire-filled pit.

There was no mistaking it now, no way to hide from the truth. The very symbol of terror for Sakura. The voice of Zouken Matou resonated through the room with more horror than anything else. Just hearing it made her legs shake so violently she thought she would become paralyzed.

The window glass rattled continuously, and a web of cracks spread across it. Then, more numerous than the cracks themselves, black shapes began to cling to the glass. They were all too familiar—insects, differing only in color. Crest Worms. The things that had once nested in her body.

"WHEre ARE yOu ThInKiNg oF gOiNg, SaKUrAaaAAAaa..."

The voice was cracked, devoid of humanity, yet that tone of voice used to torment Sakura remained unchanged. Tears she thought had run dry began to overflow, and the trembling in her legs spread to her entire body. It was too terrifying to say she had forgotten, and too recent to call it "the past." The man who had stolen everything from Sakura and ruled over her completely: Zouken Matou. The Wraith of the Matou lineage itself.

Before she knew it, Sakura was running. She threw the door open as if striking it and burst into the hallway. Even when she heard the window glass shatter behind her, she ran without looking back. The Dolls were likely confronting the insects, but against an opponent that had neutralized that many Noble Phantasms, they wouldn't last long. No matter how optimistic the estimate, they stood no chance. In the meantime, she had to flee as far as possible.

She sprinted through the hallway, taking the elevator down to the ground floor, and ran outside into the night. The air was so cold one shouldn't go out without layers of clothing, but Sakura didn't have the luxury to feel it. Or rather, her entire body was already colder than the outside air.

That she was able to escape—that she was able to take the action to flee—was a miracle. Not long ago, the very idea of resisting wouldn't have even occurred to her. Even if it had, she certainly wouldn't have been able to act on it. Because back then, there was no hope waiting for her at the end of the road.

But now, things were different. If she ran, Archer would surely save her—the one and only hero for Sakura Matou. Because he existed, her legs, which were on the verge of giving out, continued to move.

“Kakka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kaka!”

The rhythmic chattering of countless insects. A laughing voice toying with the fleeing Sakura. Without looking back at it once, the girl kept running. Toward the direction where Archer was, indicated by the bond of the Command Spells.

---

She pushed her legs to their limit. Even though she wasn't particularly athletic, her breathing was ragged from the reckless exertion. Still, Irisviel did not stop running.

It had been a short while since she was saved by Rider and his Master. Having fled through the sky, they landed on a nearby building shortly after. Or rather, only Irisviel was let down; the other two remained with grim expressions.

She felt a slight sense of relief at being away from the swarm of worms and insects. But then she remembered that perhaps the only thing that had changed was who was going to kill her.

She didn't know how much they knew. Did they still think she was Saber's Master, or did they know the truth? Judging by their shock, they at least hadn't known she was the Vessel of the Lesser Holy Grail. Regardless, they had no reason to keep her alive.

The only reason she remained calm in the face of death was that it seemed like a "better" way to die. If she were to be stabbed and die there... no matter how she looked at it, it was better than dying as food for insects while still alive.

However, their choice was different. Far from killing her, they didn't even seem to have the intention of harming her.

They had, of course, interrogated her on a few points. But the questions weren't about Saber or Kiritsugu or things concerning the Holy Grail War. They were focused almost entirely on the Holy Grail itself and the black substance that had spilled from it. And to both, Irisviel had no answers. Even she didn't know the details of what the Holy Grail truly was. As for that black mud, it was the first time she had even known of its existence.

After the questioning, they released her. Their demeanor suggested they were no longer concerned with the Holy Grail War at all.

Regarding this matter, they clearly knew more than Irisviel did. She had tried to ask them in return, but by then, they were already in the sky. In the end, she could do nothing but bite her lower lip.

However, she couldn't just stand there. She worked her mind and immediately deduced what she had to do now. She had to regroup with Kiritsugu and give him the information she had seen. Whether it was for their benefit or their detriment, they had to know.

First, she descended the building (it was too high to jump, so she used the stairs; it was a high-security building under contract with a security firm, so it cost her unnecessary effort and time) and started running. Even if there were many cars during the day, after the serial killings, the numbers were quite sparse. Major roads might be different, but the streets through town were very quiet. Only the occasional truck, avoiding traffic jams, drove by.

Though rudimentary, she had the map memorized. As long as she knew her current location, she knew the meeting point for emergencies.

Furthermore, she was certain Kiritsugu was approaching. Irisviel's role was that of a decoy. In case of an emergency—such as being abducted—a transmitter had been attached to her. Using that, he should be nearby. Even if it wasn't to "save" her.

She had set the destination far from the collapsed Civic Hall. Because of that incident, many civilians who had been huddling in their homes were awake. It was doubtful onlookers would gather right after such a violent event... but if they met nearby, there was a chance of being seen. If it was an enemy camp, it would be the worst-case scenario.

A place with little impact from the commotion. A spot with no people where they wouldn't be discovered by other Masters. Using those criteria, she ended up having to run quite a distance.

When she finally reached the destination, Irisviel collapsed. Her legs, heavy with exhaustion, felt as if they couldn't take another step. It was the most exercise she had ever done in her life. Her pounding heart, combined with the lingering pain, was in a terrible state.

Sweat poured from her body, and her wet hair clung to her skin. It wasn't a pleasant sensation, but she lacked the energy to brush it away. She looked back. Only scattered lights remained. Since there had been no fire at the Civic Hall, there was no way to see the collapse from here. But the effect on the city, which was starting to wake up, was definitely noticeable.

It was an unfavorable situation, both as a magus and a participant in the Holy Grail War. Even if it couldn't be helped, a sense of regret remained. What was most painful was that the Holy Grail had been taken, and that thing had emerged from it.

The Holy Grail existed to grant Kiritsugu’s wish. To Irisviel, that was its purpose.

But could that root of miracles, that Wish-Granting Device, truly grant a wish normally if it contained something so hideous?

Did she feel cold because of her anxiety, or had her sweat just cooled down? She hoped it was the latter.

After a while, her breathing evened out. Still, she didn't feel like moving her legs. She had simply calmed down; it didn't mean she could act yet. Well, even so, feeling the impropriety of sitting on the ground, she was thinking about finding a place to sit when—

With a loud screech of brakes, a car came to a sudden halt.

To put it briefly, it was on the verge of being scrapped. All windows except the windshield were gone, the roof was peeled back, and there was no trunk cover, revealing empty cases inside. If the person who looked out from the passenger door hadn't been her husband, she might have called the police.

“Iri!”

“Kiritsugu!”

Kiritsugu’s voice was close to a scream. Irisviel immediately scrambled up and ran.

She sat in the passenger seat as if collapsing into it. Simultaneously, Kiritsugu, who had been leaning out, closed the door and accelerated the car. She felt the sensation of her body being pressed into the seat by the sudden G-force.

The scenery changed rapidly, incomparable to when she was running on foot. Beyond the difference between a car and a human, Kiritsugu was driving at an incredible speed. The engine sound was familiar, but it was hitting a higher RPM than ever before.

Kiritsugu was frequently checking his rear-view mirror. Though gripped by anxiety, she asked:

"Kiritsugu... what happened to Maiya-san and Kariya-san?"

"They..."

Kiritsugu tried to answer, but couldn't continue. It was almost unheard of for him to hesitate. At the very least, it was a first for Irisviel. Normally, he would either brush it off as something she didn't need to know or answer immediately. For him to do neither indicated a level of abnormality.

That abnormality—Irisviel understood it instinctively.

"...They’re dead, aren't they?"

"It hasn't been decided. But I can't say they're alive."

The non-committal words were likely his own form of kindness. A very clumsy one at that. That kindness made her want to cry.

Kiritsugu Emiya. Maiya Hisau. Kariya Matou. King Arthur (Saber). And Irisviel von Einzbern. What a collection of people with seemingly short lifespans. ...Yes, it was a miracle that no one had been lost until now.

Kiritsugu was her beloved husband. For her, with her short life experience, there was much she couldn't fathom. Conversely, having spent almost all her life with him, Irisviel understood things that no one else could. Maiya, while calling herself Kiritsugu’s tool, was a lovely person. Even if it wasn't romantic love, she must have felt affection for Kiritsugu. That was why Irisviel could resonate with Maiya. Saber was serious, but perhaps that was her flaw. From Saber’s perspective, Kiritsugu likely appeared as a flawed and weak human. Behind her actions as a knight, she was likely trying to show Kiritsugu the "path of a knight." Well, much of that was probably her nature. And then there was Kariya. A man who tried to understand Irisviel as an individual, but more than that, a man who hated the title of "Magus." The will to understand and the revulsion of rejection—she felt both from him constantly. It was impolite, but she felt as if she were attending school, and it wasn't unpleasant. Neither being disliked nor Kariya himself.

Recalling those days, she thought again: she had truly loved that daily life. And it would never return.

She had gained everything thanks to the Holy Grail War and lost it because of the Holy Grail War. Because of the Grail... emotions that were nothing but irrationality began to overflow.

Even if the Holy Grail itself lacked that much value, who could say they could turn back? Everyone who participated in this mess had long since lost their path of retreat.

“And Saber is...”

“...”

The answer to that was silence.

Truly, it was just the two of them now. The man who spoke of ideals, and the woman who tried to support him. Back to the original two.

Cutting through the darkness with a single functioning headlight, they turned onto a winding back road. It was not a car that could be driven in public view; it would be reported immediately.

An empty road. No one would hear what was said there. Especially not from inside a moving car.

"Iri, how did you escape? I thought you were still alive, but I didn't think you could break out on your own..."

"I didn't escape on my own. To be honest, I thought I was finished."

She tried to remember to explain—and the laughing face of a worm monster flashed in her mind. Suppressing the scream that threatened to erupt, she continued.

"The ones at the place where I was abducted were Kirei Kotomine and Zouken Matou."

"Zouken Matou...? I see, if it's him, he could assassinate Tokiomi Tohsaka. No, but does he have a motive to participate this late in the game?"

For a while, Kiritsugu muttered to himself, lost in thought. It was his usual habit. Ignoring it, she continued.

"Kirei Kotomine didn't seem to have any intention of killing me. ...No, I feel like 'I wasn't in his sight' would be more accurate. It was as if he had a reason not to kill people, rather than a reason not to kill me. In fact, when Zouken Matou tried to kill me afterward, Kirei didn't care at all."

She couldn't say he was trying to "devour" her. Somewhere in her heart, she couldn't affirm that event. It was a nightmare. That’s why she replaced it with the fact that she was simply about to be killed.

And then.

It was Irisviel's turn to hesitate. A fact that absolutely should not have happened. She had to confess it.

“I'm sorry, Kiritsugu... Their goal was the Holy Grail inside me. They stole it.”

“The Holy Grail? How did they know about that... no, what do they intend to do with it?"

The location of the Grail was a fact hidden even from the Church's Overseer. Since the Einzberns had to prepare it, it wasn't strange to assume she had it. But that was very different from having proof that she possessed it. There was no way to predict who could have known or how.

And as for the use of the Grail itself. It wasn't something that had meaning simply by possessing it. No matter how much one claimed ownership or held onto it, in the end, it would always be distributed to the victor of the Holy Grail War. That was how it worked. Even if they succeeded in leaking its power and used it well, it was questionable whether they would be recognized as the final winner.

That was what Irisviel had thought. Until that moment.

"Kiritsugu, listen carefully."

"Iri...?"

Irisviel looked down, gripping her thighs. She should look at his face. But she simply couldn't look into Kiritsugu’s eyes. If she felt disappointment toward her in those eyes, she would never be able to recover.

Still, she had to say it. To remain silent here would be a betrayal far more terrifying than disappointment.

"Kirei Kotomine had the Grail. And then, Rider appeared, having sensed their secret maneuvers. Thanks to that intervention, I was safe. Bu-but... at that moment... Kirei Kotomine used the Grail. He made Assassin commit suicide to increase the Grail’s accumulation. And then... a Servant that man called 'Avenger'... spilled... from the Grail..."

"From... the Grail...? Impossible, that can't be..."

It couldn't be possible. It shouldn't be allowed. Because the Holy Grail was supposed to be the purest thing in the world. Otherwise, it couldn't be a mirror. It wouldn't be a Wish-Granting Device that reflects human desires. If something was already inside it... then its wish would be given priority.

Even if he won the war... Emiya Kiritsugu's wish would not be granted. This was the final outcome for a man who had sacrificed everything, every part of his life, even his loved ones... Was this what remained for him?

A small sound. Likely because Kiritsugu gripped the steering wheel too hard. Irisviel couldn't bring herself to confirm it.

"...No, not yet. Not yet—Archer definitely knew about this. His words at the banquet... there must be a countermeasure. Besides, with the current Master only sharing mana, there's room for me to negotiate..."

It was a succession of hopeful assumptions. Something that was barely a strategy, severely lacking in realism. However, they were forced to cling to such things because they were so far from truly becoming the winner of the Holy Grail War.

“Iri... please, continue.”

A trembling voice reached Irisviel's ears. Considering how quiet it was, it felt like a miracle she could even hear it.

She spoke, doing her best to sound as if nothing was wrong. She felt that if she broke down here, she wouldn't be able to say anything more.

"Kirei Kotomine had a massive number of Command Spells, likely stolen from the Overseer. His order was to 'assimilate Zouken Matou.' The next moment, infinite black insects spilled out from within Avenger."

"Black insects?"

"Do you know something about them?"

"Yeah. That’s probably what attacked us. Saber said she felt the presence of a Servant, and conventional weapons were almost useless. By giving Matou Zouken to a formless, mindless, water-like existence, they’ve managed to control it to some extent. And then, there’s the power that is lethal to Servants..."

“Yes, I believe so.”

Rider’s Noble Phantasm, Via Expugnatio. In terms of pure power, it was likely second only to Excalibur, the strongest in this war.

The big man, fitting his combat instincts, had certainly fired his Noble Phantasm first. In contrast, Kirei Kotomine—even if he had succeeded in merging Avenger and Matou Zouken—was just starting out. The numbers were still few and didn't seem overwhelming. Conversely, the fact that even that number made a Heroic Spirit consider retreat meant it was incredibly dangerous.

"After we escaped from Avenger, Rider and the others left me and went somewhere. Probably back to the scene, acting as if they couldn't be bothered with me. Oh, and I think Archer's name came up."

"An alliance, probably not. We should view it as a limited cooperative relationship for this incident only."

At those words, Iri nodded. There was no room for doubt.

If the need for an alliance arose, the first to refuse would be Rider. Being too free-spirited, he would make the meaning of an alliance almost nonexistent. It would be one thing to keep a distance and cooperate only in emergencies. Archer, who likely held similar views, would do the same.

They discussed a few other key points. Eventually, Irisviel couldn't take it anymore and spoke.

“Hey, Kiritsugu. We... we've already lost. Can't we just accept that and give up? Let's take back Illya...and the three of us go somewhere...”

They were likely cruel words. Even as she said them, she knew how heartless it was. But she had clung to that hope. A convenient excuse of "we lost" was prepared. That they could still turn back.

And Kiritsugu was also clinging to a wretched hope. The possibility of Archer, the path Archer showed. And the people who had died for his sake. Everything made Kiritsugu hesitate to fall. Perhaps it reflected reality far more cruelly than if there were only despair.

"I can't, Iri. There's still a way to win. And if Kirei Kotomine has obtained something like that, I can't leave it alone. I'm sure... the whole world will face something terrifying."

“But! ...Surely, Archer and the others will handle it.”

Irisviel said in a voice that sounded like she was about to cry.

She knew. That was why Kiritsugu didn't deny it. He left Irisviel alone as she wept with emotion.

It was because he couldn't leave it to "someone else" that Kiritsugu Emiya became a killing machine. If he could push it onto someone else just because he lost a Servant or a comrade... how much easier would his life have been?

“Besides, Iri. For us—no, perhaps for anyone—there is no path of retreat left. We can only keep moving forward, we can only win. Even if we run from here, what awaits us is another despair and hell. So, for me, there is no path left but to move forward.”

Kiritsugu said it as if convincing himself. And Irisviel as well. Words so painful to hear.

She loosened her grip on her hand and held it up before her eyes. A beautiful hand, nothing like his. A useless hand that had never been stained by anything, never accomplished anything.

She was powerless.

“Kiritsugu, be careful. Kirei Kotomine isn't normal. I can't say how or why, but he’s just not sane. So, be careful.”

Even now, she could only offer words that weren't even advice, just obvious warnings.

“Thank you. I'll watch out for him.”

Even to such words, he was kind.

Not just this. He was kind to everything, a man whose heart bled for it all.

The car stopped. The surroundings were a place she had seen before. The front of the Japanese-style estate that had become their second hideout. This was the end.

“Hey, is there anything I can do to help?”

Her last, small resistance. In combat, there was not a single instance where Irisviel had been more right than Kiritsugu. Still, she asked. She wanted to be affirmed. And—at the very least, she wanted to die with him.

“Wait for me.”

His voice was by no means an affirmation. But it wasn't a denial, either.

“I will definitely come back.”

“...Okay.”

Should she be happy? Should she be sad? To her, whose life was short and entirely filled by Kiritsugu, she didn't know. Only tears rolled down her cheeks.

Opening the slightly warped door, she stood on the ground. Her legs were trembling. It must be because she had been running until just now. It had to be. There could be no other reason.

She opened the slightly warped door and stood on the ground. Her legs were shaking. It was surely because she had been running earlier. It had to be. There could be no other reason.

Kiritsugu's face through the broken glass looked like that of a different person. I've learned yet another one of his faces, she thought, searing that face into her memory. So she would never forget it.

“I'm going now.”

“Yes, see you later and please be careful.”

A short parting word, a wish for a reunion. The car drove off.

And Irisviel continued to gaze at his departing figure for a long time.

Even after he was out of sight, she watched.

Forever.

---

In the end, how do I really feel about this man?

While adjusting a super-highly advanced Mystic Code that even she, a member of a prestigious lineage of magi, had never touched, Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri thought as she looked at her fiancé before her.

"In other words, the Holy Grail uses the coordinates designated by the Throne of Heroes and overwhelming magical energy to dig its existential pressure down near the surface of The Root (Akasha). Don't you think it's marvelous, Sola-Ui!"

"Yes. It's reverse-calculating the process used when summoning Heroic Spirits. It seems like a brute-force method, but in reality, it's terrifyingly precise."

Doing research and, if there are collaborators, discussing the contents. In short, the usual daily life at the Clock Tower. I never thought I'd be doing such a thing even after coming to the Holy Grail War. Well, if there's a tool that exceeds the realm of a Mystic Code—one could even call it a Pseudo-Magic Mystic Code—and a fragment of it is at hand, it can't be helped. Moreover, there's even a first-class research tool called a Noble Phantasm right here. Even Sola-Ui, despite herself, felt her heart dance in this environment.

Though their goals differed, they are looking at the footsteps of True Magic. There is no magus who wouldn't be excited by this, and those who aren't are not magi.

Identifying the cause of the Holy Grail's abnormality was very easy. Well, once it was 'opened,' the substance was even visible, so there was nothing difficult about it.

The problem is the Thaumaturgical Formula to strip it away. Since they were simply mixed, extremely speaking, one only had to "filter" it. However, because it influenced the Magecraft itself, and as a result of the investigation, the fact that the opponent is a Servant came to light. Due to these influences, it was necessary to layer perfect precautions.

That alone was, well, troublesome.

However, in terms of the results of the Holy Grail War, this is more than enough. After all, they’ve obtained a foothold for True Magic, which was far more meaningful than military glory or the Holy Grail.

Of course, if Kayneth tried to withdraw from the Holy Grail War because of this, she intended to stop him by any means. What Sola-Ui wanted was neither military glory nor the Holy Grail, let alone a piece of True Magic. It was the man known as Lancer, and him alone.

The certain fact that she had fallen in love with him. That's why there were things she didn't understand. Such as how she felt about the man before her.

"Sorry, Kayneth, could you slow down a little? As expected, I can't keep up with the speed you reach when you get in the mood."

"Hm, my apologies. I seem to have lost a bit of my self-control in the face of True Magic... Is this better?"

"Yes, that's fine."

Kayneth looked like a child unable to contain his excitement over a new toy.

If asked whether this man lacked charm... well, he probably had some. He was like arrogance given human form, but he had the achievements to justify it. Considering there were people in the world who demanded rights without having any achievements, he was far better. Besides, his attitude toward her was almost pathetically subservient, so she didn't need to worry about it.

His skill in magecraft was abnormal, even considering his prestigious lineage. Simply as a magus, those above him could be counted on one hand. When it came to the genre of "combat," he lagged behind somewhat, which was likely why Kayneth craved military glory.

Generally speaking, he was a "prime catch" from a feminine perspective.

However, unfortunately, this wasn't enough to make the girlish side of Sola-Ui fall in love.

(Why isn't this man good enough...?)

She pondered while chanting incantations and letting her fingertips glide. It was high-level magecraft, but for Sola-Ui, who excelled at support, it was familiar. At the very least, it was much easier than Kayneth's task of leading the Grail's analysis and the construction of the separation ritual. Easy enough to let her mind wander.

If she could just cut away the reasons... it was simply that he was Kayneth, so he was no good, and her beloved was Diarmuid, so he was wonderful. She knew that. She knew it, but Kayneth should have been a good person to her too. Yet, when she tried to imagine such a scene, no such image came to mind.

"I-is there something on my face?"

"Eh? Oh, sorry. I was just lost in thought."

"I-I see. Well, don’t overdo it."

Before she knew it, she had been staring at his face. Realizing this, he turned red. It was a clear reaction of someone in love. She knew his kindness stemmed from that as well.

In fact, when he was absorbed in his research, he had a very good expression. It wasn't something she’d gaze at in adoration, but it wasn't something she’d tire of looking at, either. At the very least, it was far healthier than participating in something like the Holy Grail War and constantly carving wrinkles into his brow because things weren't going his way.

Since he had the greatest aptitude for research, he should have just pursued that. Why did he suddenly start saying things like, "I'm participating in the Holy Grail War—come and witness my glory up close"? Even if he wanted military glory, she felt there were better battlefields for it.

Recalling the past, she engaged in thoughts without answers. To put it bluntly, she wasn't even seeking an answer; it was just a string of doubts.

She abruptly stopped her fruitless train of thought. To fill the idleness, she tried to think of a conversation with Lancer, only to remember he wasn't there. If he were, she wouldn't have been having these pointless thoughts in the first place.

(Lancer's condition... seems fine.)

She reconfirmed the obvious. It was the reason Sola-Ui could afford to be composed, so it was only natural.

Lancer's mission this time was scouting the enemy. Archer was acting as a decoy, and the opponent was a magus. For Lancer, whose anti-magus capability was the highest among all Servants, there was no safer mission.

There had been an accident midway through, but Archer had been useful as a decoy, and Lancer was safe.

At one point, it seemed he was in a tight spot, but that was also due to Archer’s situation. She didn't care if Archer died or what happened to him, so he could do whatever he wanted. She had felt a slight chill when she heard Lancer had entered combat, but that had ended before long.

Regardless, Lancer's "safe mission" continued, and he was still scouting and on alert. It seemed Archer had been injured while killing the enemy, so they couldn't return yet. That useless Archer.

Thanks to that, one could say Sola-Ui could concentrate on magecraft.

It was a leisure she hadn't had for a long time since meeting Lancer. Before she knew it, she seemed to have forgotten how to spend the free time she used to have too much of.

"It’s going well. Sola-Ui, let's take a short break. I'm brewing tea; wait for me."

A voice called out just as she was thinking of the next subject.

If she had nothing to do anyway, talking would kill time. She nodded, having no reason to refuse.

"Is there any maple syrup?"

"Yes. I’ll go get it."

Kayneth disappeared into the kitchen and returned in no time. A short period, not even long enough to boil water. However, steam was clearly rising from the teapot he held.

She took a sip of the perfectly prepared tea. It was missing a certain something—well, it was hard to find perfect leaves in Japan. She added maple syrup to forcibly mask the flavor. Other than that, it was a good brew. An environment where one could drink tea at any time meant an environment where water was always boiling.

That wasn't all. The temperature was always constant, and there was no need to check the fireplace. The telephone, regardless of its lack of secrecy, was excellent for quick communication. Not everything was like that, but somehow...

"It is convenient, isn't it?"

"...Yes, it is convenient."

No voice of denial was raised against Sola-Ui's murmur.

He was a magus who loathed science; it wouldn't have been strange for him to raise a voice of denial. Yet, the response was passive agreement. That was how undeniable a convenient life surrounded by science was.

Everything in the room had been introduced at Archer’s initiative. At first, Kayneth strongly objected, and Sola-Ui felt the same though she didn't say it. However, Archer's words—"These things are for saving trouble and gaining time. They will increase the time you can spend on your magecraft. If you don't like it, you just don't have to use it"—forced their installation.

As a result, they had lost to the convenience and were now using it.

"Well, it is logical. It's not as if we're integrating it into magecraft. If it saves labor, even if it's something vulgar, we should utilize it."

It was a very magus-like statement, from a man who was a model for magi. If only his mouth hadn't been twisted in frustration, it would have been perfect.

"Still, I’m surprised you accepted this, Kayneth."

"Hmph..."

Sola-Ui had intended to say it casually, but it came out sounding a bit ironic. Conflicts over Lancer had been frequent, and it slipped out.

She didn't mean it that way—but she didn't know how to put it into words. To cover it up, she took a sip of the remaining tea.

"Since the origins of their development are different, there’s no need to be so hostile; that’s all I thought. Analysis of the Grail is for a limited period, and there’s no time to waste on unnecessary tasks. I just thought I’d use what can be used."

Kayneth spoke slightly faster than usual, as if rattling off a list.

Even that—everything about him. Usually, he acted more refined than was necessary, yet at times he became strangely childish.

...That was right. Before Lancer came, they had always maintained this kind of distance. She suddenly remembered it, with a sense of sentimentality. Once Diarmuid arrived, Sola-Ui fell in love. Simultaneously, because of the Holy Grail War, the once-peaceful atmosphere vanished. It wasn't that she missed the past, nor did she want to return to it. She just somehow remembered—and it felt like a lifetime ago. That was all.

Love is likely something like that. While concluding so, Sola-Ui pulled herself together.

She finished her first cup of tea but didn't feel like having another. She spoke to her fiancé.

"Kayneth, I'm fine now."

"Hm... is that so? Then let's continue."

(Just as I thought)

It was exactly as she thought. She pondered while standing up.

Kayneth often showed her concern (though it usually backfired). He was far from being able to read the room and did it so frequently that it was mostly annoying or meaningless.

Between the two of them, there wasn't much difference in their aptitude as magi. Naturally, that’s excluding the Magic Crest. Their talent wasn't as far apart as their actual skill. The reason that gap was as wide as heaven and earth was undoubtedly because he himself had put in the effort.

Regardless, there was a difference between them like a professional and an amateur, like first-class and second-class. No matter if Kayneth was working with more than twice the capacity and difficulty, there was no way he would tire first. He was likely working while watching Sola-Ui’s face. He must have mistaken her being lost in thought for fatigue.

(He is a kind person, though. We've been together for a long time.)

Though her heart had never fluttered for him even once.

A small-scale Temple centered around a fragment of the Holy Grail. Around it were the Noble Phantasms Archer had provided and two mercury arrows. Specifically, it was Kayneth’s ultimate anti-Holy Grail Mystic Code, and also a single-use projectile to separate the Grail's contents.

It was close to completion. She reached out and began to chant a spell—

"Forgive me, wait a moment."

Kayneth, who was about to activate the magecraft, suddenly stopped and pressed his fingers to his forehead. His gaze was even sharper than when he stood as a Lord.

It was a Telepathy message from Lancer. And it was no trivial matter. Because she understood that, Sola-Ui remained silent.

In no time, his brow furrowed deeper. And an irritated 'tsk' echoed.

His fingers left his forehead, but his grim expression remained. It was rare for Kayneth, who always tried to be his best self in front of Sola-Ui, not even to try and hide it.

"What happened? You seem to be in quite a bad mood."

"Ah, sorry, Sola-Ui. Apparently, some fool has used the Holy Grail."

"Used it... you mean this?"

As she said it, Sola-Ui looked at the Holy Grail with an expression that was less of disgust and more like looking at filth.

Sola-Ui's first impression upon seeing the contents of the Holy Grail was that it was dirty. From a magus's, or rather, a mystical perspective, it was something that should absolutely not exist. According to Kayneth, it was the inversion of human positive emotions. Rather than just a collection of negative emotions and motives, it was more a "counter" to righteousness itself, apparently. She didn't understand the difference.

Moreover, Kayneth's investigation revealed that it even had the power to corrupt a Servant's mind and decompose their spiritual body. The thought of her beloved Lancer touching such a thing made her shiver.

"Yes, that."

"What could they be thinking...?"

"According to information from Rider, which I got via Lancer, the culprit is the former Master of Assassin. One of the fallen Three Families (Matou) assisted him, but they were immediately betrayed and killed. As for Assassin's Master, he's apparently using a massive amount of Command Spells from somewhere to control the Holy Grail... from what I've heard, he's just a madman. He's causing nothing but trouble with his halfway knowledge and skill in magecraft."

Anyone who would use such a thing certainly couldn't be sane.

Consciously averting her eyes from the fragment of the Holy Grail, Sola-Ui spoke.

"What is the situation now?"

"Currently, Archer, Lancer, and Rider are working together to push it toward the sea on the south side. In terms of firepower, it seems there's no problem since Archer is there, but the numbers are immense. They can't seem to find Assassin's Master to destroy the Holy Grail. It looks like the situation will remain a stalemate for a while."

"But, in that case, Lancer will..."

The anxiety that she might lose him drove her to squeeze her left arm tightly.

For a moment, Kayneth looked offended and seemed about to raise his voice. But he immediately took a deep breath, calmed down, and spoke in an extremely kind voice.

"Sola-Ui, what we need now is either to find Assassin's Master or to quickly separate that filth from the Holy Grail. The people on the scene are doing their best to find the Master while pushing back the filth. Then, what we should do is bring them the other solution. Isn't that right?"

"...Yes, you're right."

Anxiety still surged. But his words were rational. Sola-Ui nodded slightly.

Suppressing the urge to scream, she forcibly convinced herself. Besides, that would mean a higher survival rate for Lancer—

And then.

It was a complete accident that Sola-Ui noticed it. She had averted her eyes from the fragment of Holy Grail. The direction she looked happened to be the direction they were coming from. It was as simple as that.

"Kayneth, above you!"

And her ability to shout a warning instantly was also pure chance. She alerted him to the danger with a volume that surprised even herself.

Kayneth immediately jumped to the side and rolled. Normally—for example, back at the Clock Tower—he might not have been able to react. But he had been staying in a place where he needed to sharpen his nerves, the Holy Grail War, for several days. Because of that, his vigilance was higher than usual.

Regardless, he leaped with all his might without even checking what was nearby. He knocked over a table—not one that came with the room, but one he had bought for its aesthetics—and performed a full roll.

Before he could stand up, Sola-Ui saw it falling from the ceiling. A swarm of insects. Black, hideous as if they were boiled filth, nauseating to behold.

She knew by instinct alone. There couldn't be two things like this. This was the contents of the Holy Grail.

"Impossible! Why are they here... No, before that, how did they bypass the Bounded Field!?"

Kayneth screamed, clutching his head.

Realizing the surprise attack had failed, the insects swarmed in through the windows, breaking it from the outside. How they got here, how they bypassed the Bounded Field—she didn't know. But she knew what their goal was.

The smallest—yet sturdiest—table in the room. The one she had been using for analysis just moments ago. She kicked it over toward Kayneth with all her might. The micro-temple space was deactivated, and the Noble Phantasm, the half-finished Mystic Code, and the Grail fragment rolled onto the floor.

Kayneth was momentarily stunned. But he immediately understood her intention and scrambled to gather the scattered objects on the floor.

"Sola-Ui, jump!"

By directing the Grail fragment toward him, she was being surrounded by insects. Reacting to his voice, Sola-Ui leaped. It was rough, but the gust of wind certainly caught her and lifted her up. She was carried toward Kayneth’s path.

In front of him was a wall. Or rather, where a wall had been. Now, a person-sized oval space had been cut out.

A Single-Action activation of magecraft (Casting). Perhaps he had even turned a simple shout into an incantation. Two completely different magical effects in two directions. He had performed it effortlessly.

Being carried by Kayneth, she flew through the hole in the wall. Leaving the landing and control entirely to him, Sola-Ui concentrated her magical energy.

Insects were overflowing from the place they had just left, chasing them. She was almost overcome by revulsion, and her magical energy wavered—but she forced it back with experience and her vast magical energy. On her fingertip was one of the few Mystic Codes dedicated to Sola-Ui. By channeling mana into it, she could unleash firepower that no ordinary magus could rival, though it wasn't quite at Kayneth's level.

A strike with everything she had, pouring in as much mana as possible. She shaped the mana into a blade and added the wind attribute. The highly compressed air inside generated small sparks of lightning as it struck the target at high speed.

Its power was more than enough to bisect the house horizontally. At the very least, it was impossible for mere insects to block it; it must not happen. However...

“No way! Did it absorb the Magecraft!?”

"Is that why they could secretly bypass the Bounded Field!?"

Landing on the ground, the two began to run simultaneously. They no longer had any intention of fighting the insects. Something that can absorb magecraft is, by definition, not something a magus should face.

However, the insects weren't just chasing them. Whether they had planned for their escape, she didn't know. But outside, mountains of insects were already waiting.

Kayneth let out a low groan. With magecraft rendered useless and no escape route, they were trapped.

"Kuh... Lanc—!"

He was likely about to use a Command Spell to call Lancer. A massive reaction of magical energy showed in his hand. And then, his eyes widened.

Sola-Ui didn't know what happened. But Kayneth’s face was filled with shock, and he was looking behind her. Then, the shock turned into a desperate expression, and he tried to grab Sola-Ui.

It was only then that she also understood the chill. A hideous presence of magical energy attacking from behind. It was far too dangerous. Yet, to call it the presence of death felt too weak; she couldn't quite believe it.

Probably, only one of them would be saved. The calm part of her told her that. Perhaps it was the cold-hearted part of her.

If she were saved at his sacrifice, she would first take the Mystic Code and other items and flee this place. The fragment of the Holy Grail... she might leave it behind. And then, first, a re-contract with Lancer. After that, if she left it to Archer or someone else, the Holy Grail War would end on its own. Then, she could return to her homeland. With Lancer.

As she thought that—

Sola-Ui pushed Kayneth away.

"...Huh?"

It was Kayneth who murmured it. But Sola-Ui must have been even more surprised.

She herself had no idea why she had done such a thing. She didn't hate him, and she didn't think he was a bad person. It was just that she didn't feel anything for him.

Therefore, she should have prioritized her own life. Then, she should have lived out her life with Diarmuid and been happy. Knowing a love that burns the soul, yielding to passion, and saying goodbye to her previously inorganic life. If she did that, she would surely have been happy. She shouldn't die in a place like this, in a way like this. she had finally grasped a foothold on happiness.

And yet.

Sola-Ui didn't want Kayneth to die just as much as she didn't want to die herself. Just as much as she longed for Lancer.

(Ah, so that's how it was...)

A small sound, like a fairy’s whisper. It reached no one but her. A certain conviction.

It was nothing special. It wasn't difficult. It was natural. The most "wrong" choice of all was simply the most natural choice for her.

Sola-Ui had never been in love. Boring days. Days that passed without incident, as if slipping through the gaps of a drama. She had never felt moved. Just the routine, one after the other. Indeed, there was no "romantic love" (恋, koi). 

(But...)

Again, a whisper. This time, it wasn't a fairy; it was clearly her own words, her own will.

(I did love (愛, ai) him, didn't I? Enough to instinctively risk my life to save him in an instant.)

Days that were nothing but boring. But she realized Kayneth was always there. Various memories flashed by. From her childhood, as she got closer to the present, memories with him increased. In all of them, she had a bored face. But it was a space where that was allowed.

Nothing but trivial things. Yet, they were so nostalgic, and she wanted to taste them one more time. But she could no longer reach them. She could no longer share tea and look at his face.

(What should I do?)

Her fingertips left his body. The lingering trace she had been following was also at an end.

To realize something like this only at the very end. Sola-Ui must have been a hopeless fool.

Kayneth’s face, as he moved away, was like a child’s crying face. She had seen his pathetic face many times. But this was the most pathetic it had ever been. He can make a face like that too, she thought. Should she be grateful to have seen a new side of him at the last moment?

His hand was reaching out. But Sola-Ui would not grasp it. If she did that, both of them would die. That, she absolutely could not allow.

(What words should I say at a time like this?)

Should she say "Live"? Or were there other clever words? she didn't know. If this was how it was going to be, she should have talked to him more.

So.

Sola-Ui smiled.

Not towards Lancer, who was about to be summoned and fly to the spot. But toward her fiancé. The one she had never fallen in love with. Yet the one she loved.

To tell him, I loved you.

---

He didn't know when he had fallen for her. Maybe he had fallen in love the moment they met. Perhaps it was during their many meetings. Either was fine, and it didn't matter. It was irrelevant.

There was only one fact. And it was cruel.

The first time, the hand he reached out to save her ended up being saved by her instead. And the second time he reached out, it missed, cutting through empty air.

No matter how far he reached, he couldn't touch her. She was being swallowed by the insects. And he saw it for the first time—the smile directed at him.

The summoning of the Servant was too late. Too late for Sola-Ui being swallowed, too late for Kayneth to fall into despair. And yet, there had been more than enough time for him to escape by abandoning her!

"Stop, Lanceeerrrr! Go back! GO BAAAACK!"

"Kh! My deepest apologies, my Master!"

Held by Lancer, the ground receded in an instant. Though it had only been a short while, it was their home—and more than anything, the place where Sola-Ui was. That’s right, Sola-Ui was still there. He was leaving her behind. There was no way he could leave her. She had finally smiled at him.

He simply thrashed about while being held down. The scenery grew distant. The place where the woman he loved was.

And before he knew it. Kayneth, who could no longer see anything, was on his knees on some rooftop. Simply dazed by the loss, not even knowing when he had arrived here.

The objects that had fallen on the floor before he knew it. The Noble Phantasm, the fragment of the Holy Grail, and the Mystic Code. Had she died for these things? Had she risked her life for him, for someone like him?

"Lancer, why didn't you come faster! Why didn't you protect Sola-Ui!"

"..."

Lancer didn't answer. And he didn't even meet his eyes.

Tears overflowed. Why? Rage against an irrational world. She should have lived. If someone had to die, he should have been the sacrifice.

He couldn't stop anything. Nothing. He couldn't control himself.

He clenched his fist and brought it down on Lancer. A dull thud. Such a blow could not possibly affect a Servant. And it meant nothing. Still, Kayneth continued to hit Lancer. A formless, shapeless action, like a child, just continuously thrusting his fist. The overflowing tears, the lashing out—nothing stopped. How was he supposed to know what to do?

"Because... because you were late! You swore loyalty, yet Sola-Ui is... why!! At the most crucial moment! Aaaaaaah..."

There was no way Kayneth's fists were working. Normal attacks don't work on Servants, and even if they were effective, they wouldn't work on a trained hero. He knew it was meaningless.

So, please stop looking away with that pained expression.

"It’s your fault... yours! You were too slow! Y-you... bastard!!!"

The feeling in his arm began to fade. No, it was all his senses that were fading. He couldn't tell what he was doing, and perhaps even standing felt like a lie. What was he doing? Participating in the Holy Grail War? Was the man in front of him Lancer? Where was this place? The most unbelievable fact was that he was alive, so what could he believe, or what could he believe in about himself?

As he pounded his fists against Lancer’s chest... Kayneth finally couldn’t even raise his arms anymore. His body trembled violently, shrinking as he collapsed to the ground, curling up.

A small sound of his clenched hand hitting the ground. His sobs were smaller and more fragile than that.

"Why... why did I let her get killed..."

His trembling hands remained tightly clenched. No matter how he tried to relax, they stayed tightly shut.

Lancer's words came from above.

"I am truly sorry, Kayneth-sama... because of my incompetence."

"Shut uuuup!"

Was that anger? He didn't know, but it was certainly a surge of emotion.

The overflowing emotion made Kayneth stand up. In front of him was the handsome man she never stopped saying she liked. He no longer had any feelings of jealousy toward his own Servant. But he just couldn't stop the feeling of helplessness.

"Sola-Ui died protecting me! She protected me! I should have been the one to protect her... All because I was weak..."

He buried his face in his hands. And pressed hard. How could he show himself like this, with this kind of face and this kind of will?

"Tell me, Lancer... Why am I... so weak?"

An answer that would never come.

Kayneth didn't know if it was fitting for a knight's loyalty. But Lancer stood rooted to the spot without uttering a single word. He just waited for his Master, who continued to sob.

Eventually, Kayneth opened his arms. To put it bluntly, it was a terrible face. More than a face wet with tears, it was a complexion that said death was near. Even so, his eyes held a strong will.

"Lancer, let's go."

Where are we going? Kayneth asked himself. How much easier would it have been if he could say, "To where Sola-Ui is." At least he wouldn't have to think about the pain piercing his chest. And—he could ask her the reason for her smile, and depending on the answer, he could be elated or lament. And then, they would have tea as usual. He could have such a convenient delusion.

But he couldn't. Not for a little while longer.

"Yes."

Lancer answered with a short reply.

Kayneth approached the fence and looked down at the city at night. It seemed to be relatively close to the Civic Hall. In the faint light, he could see the silhouette of the massive collapsed building. There, or near there. The culprit who had put Sola-Ui through this was surely there.

It was a magus's pride and duty. But within that...

(I suppose I can at least put my hatred for what they did to her into this?)

He whispered words that no one would hear into his heart. Without being heard by anyone, not even the person herself, the words vanished like dew.

"We will defeat him. Earn as much time as you can for me to create the Mystic Code for that purpose."

“Understood, my Master, Kayneth-sama.... This time, I swear on my spear and my life.”

Watching Lancer leap and disappear. Realizing that Sola-Ui was no longer on the other side.

He began to pour magecraft into the Mystic Code again. While forcing his blurry vision to work. Powerfully, perfectly.

To ensure that there would be no more sacrifices like her.

---

"Damn it, what the hell am I supposed to do!"

I shouted, glaring at the wave in front of my eyes.

Yes, a wave. It was no longer something as simple as a swarm of insects. Thanks to the efforts of the three Servants, we were pushing them toward the less populated area. But the battle situation wasn't improving at all.

The individual capabilities of each one were not much of a threat, provided you didn't touch them directly. Well, when there are millions or tens of millions of them, if one were a threat, it would be a nightmare. The problem was that they were too spread out to be completely annihilated, and they kept springing up endlessly. If you left even one, it would multiply on its own. And the location of their weakness, the Holy Grail, was unknown.

By the way, at this point, I’ve given up on having a wish granted by the Holy Grail. I admit I have a strong will to live, but even I can't bring myself to do that at the cost of mass genocide.

The reason the scales were somehow balanced was likely because the Angra Mainyu side wasn't getting serious yet.

I didn't know the details, but currently, Angra Mainyu was like plain water being forced through a hose called Zouken Matou. I can't tell which is more powerful since I haven't experienced the original Angra Mainyu. But it's certainly easier to use. I could see that from how they effectively spread their forces and weren't being annihilated in small quantities.

However, even so, there seem to be weaknesses. For some reason, the presence of a Servant was concentrated somewhere. That was likely Zouken Matou’s main body.

That was the reason I said the opponent wasn't serious yet. If they release more than a certain amount, Zouken Matou's presence will become clear. In other words, the current state is the maximum amount possible without revealing their location. If it were a bit clearer, I would have blasted them with Ea.

Furthermore, the Servants I was fighting alongside were also a problem.

"Rider! Can't you do something more?!"

"Don't ask for the impossible. These things possess abilities that are the natural enemies of Servants—especially Servants like me.”

To my shout, Rider replied calmly—or rather, matter-of-factly. But there was a slight bitterness mixed in his expression.

In this anti-Grail-Zouken battlefield, Rider was the most useless. He was running through the sky freely, but his attack targets were only those that leaked out. Simply put, he couldn't touch them directly with his chariot. His attacks were only performed with the lightning of the aftereffects. Naturally, he was adjusting his magical energy to increase the amount of lightning. But that was just a drop in the ocean.

"My chariot’s method of attack is to ram into things and blow them away. If I ram into those things, I’ll be riddled with holes in an instant. You’re the one who should be careful—can you really afford to be so generous with your Noble Phantasms?"

"My Noble Phantasms return on their own the moment their intended function stops, unless I specifically intend to leave them behind. Though that's a different story if they're destroyed in an instant. And even if that happens, you don't have to worry about me running out of weapons, because I possess infinite wealth in my treasury."

"Kuuh!! As expected of the Oldest King, Gilgamesh. You possess remarkable treasures. Are you sure you won't join me and become allies? Together, the two of us could conquer the stars themselves."

He let out a hoarse sound, revealing genuine frustration. Even so, he never failed to seize every opportunity to invite others to join him in conquering the world. In some respects, he was an exceptionally remarkable and resolute man—or perhaps simply stubborn.

"Just deal with it later, whatever it is!"

"I'll take that as a verbal promise!"

"No, that's not what he meant!"

I lost the strength to raise my voice. The one who spoke in my place was Waver. They are a perfectly matched pair in every sense. Of course, that's sarcasm.

And Rider continued to ride his chariot, mainly hunting down the ones that had been missed. But still, the amount of annihilation was too small compared to his firepower. At this rate, Lancer, who was fighting while running around on the ground, was still more helpful. Essentially, I was the only one providing the practical firepower, flying on my Vimana and showering the enemy with more Noble Phantasms.

If I had to say it was unavoidable, that was that. Rider had no effective means against the Grail-Zouken. If he engaged with something broad and sweeping like his chariot, he would certainly be devoured in an instant. If it were Ionian Hetairoi, they would isolate them over a wide area, but instead, it would just become a feeding ground.

This also had to do with the difference in stance between Lancer and Rider. Lancer had the confidence to manage even if approached, thanks to his superior technique and speed. In contrast, Rider had to rely on brute force if approached. It wasn't a matter of who was superior; it was just that when faced with quantity over quality, the former had the advantage. At the same time, it was a fatal problem in this situation.

Even Lancer’s spear technique was showing signs of fatigue due to the effects of his battle with Saber just moments ago. I had treated him beforehand, but he was far from fully recovered. Even to an amateur’s eye, his left side wasn’t moving well.

"If only Saber were here at a time like this..."

"It's no use wishing for what isn't here. Besides, she is not unrelated. she will come to help when she notices."

I knew that, but the wait was too frustrating.

With Invisible Air, it wouldn't be impossible to enter the swarm of insects. If she did, she should be able to find Kirei Kotomine, regardless of whether she found the Grail-Zouken. With Excalibur, she wouldn't have to worry about touching the insects like the chariot did.

"Lancer!! What's happening on your side, or rather, with Kayneth!"

Compared to Rider, who was also flying in the sky, Lancer was further away. I shouted so my voice would reach him.

"A message from my Master! 'The Mystic Code will be ready soon. Hold out until then somehow!'"

"Easy for him to say!"

It was an misplaced anger. Rather, given our positions, we were the ones asking for help. But we had no time to spare.

The situation seemed equal, or perhaps slightly in our favor. However, the time this balance could be maintained wasn't long. A Servant’s combat duration depends on their Master.

I hadn't seen my limit yet. However, that was because my Master possessed a far greater amount of magical energy than normal. If things continue at this rate, Waver, who has a small amount of magical energy and a Servant with poor fuel efficiency, will be the first to collapse. If that happened, we would start losing control of the insects and some of the insects will start to escape.

What would Zouken do if he broke into the city? Would he devour people one by one, or will he hide his main body somewhere? The range of imaginable actions was too wide to counter. If it comes to that, I'll have to consider wiping out the entire Fuyuki. It was an act I didn't want to think about, even as a last resort. Nevertheless, it must be my duty as a participant in the Holy Grail War. I cannot allow the damage to spread beyond this point.

In any case, we were taking every available action. Yet, the situation wasn't progressing. A click of my tongue escaped in frustration.

"Archer, do not be so impatient. Being so full of bloodlust will not change the situation, will it?"

"I know that, I just prepared myself if the worst happens."

It seemed Rider sensed my frustration. But being admonished wouldn't make me stop.

Perhaps this was the difference between a normal person and a hero.

"If we push them back completely, they will have no choice but to get serious. It'll be the same even if the trump card Lancer's Master is preparing arrives. This kind of thing won't last long; it will surely break down somewhere."

It was our role to hold them back until then. He was absolutely right. Even knowing that didn't make the anxiety go away.

"I guess it’ll stay like this for a while..."

"Pray. To any god other than the one Kirei Kotomine believes in."

A clever sarcasm brought a smile to my lips. Indeed, praying to such a thing would only make things that might go well turn out badly.

I had regained some composure. I focused on the black insects again, raining down Noble Phantasms over a wide area. Including the ones that were moving, I had to cover a front line several kilometers wide. Concentration was more than enough. An empty lot where many craters have already been made and which is in a miserable state. If a black shadow dared to hide there, I would unleash a high-firepower bombardment that would be unthinkable even for a warzone.

I had considered the possibility of some Noble Phantasms being destroyed, but so far, there was no sign of that. While their anti-magecraft and anti-ether attack capabilities were high, their physical attack power was barely more than that of a bug. They seemed to have no way to destroy my Noble Phantasms, which were mostly solidified material. Or perhaps they have decided it's meaningless to break one or two.

I flew to the edge once and turned my Vimana around. It was exactly at that moment. A light, similar to the sun, overflowed from the north, which was my back.

"That... is probably Saber's Noble Phantasm."

"Is that Excalibur!?"

Waver seemed genuinely surprised by the activation of Excalibur. But I and Rider were different.

The Noble Phantasm was activated on a high road quite far from here. In other words, there's a high possibility that the Grail-Zouken launched an attack on them as well. Impossible... I almost screamed.

"Did it manage to separate a swarm of insects without the three Servants noticing? Even a divided portion has a Servant's presence, though not a strong one. Is such a thing possible for that thing, which doesn't seem capable of such skillful maneuvers?"

"Or, did they sneak in as many insects as possible in the brief moment you left... Well played, Kirei Kotomine and Zouken Matou!"

This time, I couldn't suppress my anger. My body lifted, as if I were about to rush toward the city.

"Archer, don't be hasty! The fact that they can prepare a great number even after being blasted like this means they are definitely here. If we leave and let them escape, the consequences will be irreparable!"

"I know!"

That's why I stopped myself with just a slight lift of my body.

Zouken Matou, and Kirei Kotomine. Even in the main story, if you were to count the most vicious humans starting from the top, they were the two who would always be at the top no matter who you asked. I never thought it would be this troublesome when they combined.

"Still, to think I’d be outmaneuvered in strategy at every turn! They're quite something!"

Rider roared, half in praise and half in anger.

I didn't know whether Zouken or Kirei was taking the lead. but they were constantly outsmarting us at every turn. We were barely holding on thanks to the contingencies I had set up. Yet, even that safety net was about to vanish.

My biggest mistake. I shouldn't have left Zouken Matou alone in a state where I wasn't sure if he was dead or not. I should have searched every nook and cranny and finished him off for sure.

“Ah, M-Master!? ...Ngh, s-sorry, I’m leaving this to you!”

Without waiting for a reply, Lancer turned his body into a gale.

Bad things happen at once. But it wasn't luck. It was all planned by them.

"We can't hold them back!" Waver Screaming. 

"It can't be helped! If Kayneth dies here, we’ll lose our trump card!"

The insects that leaked through would proceed to the city. No matter how small the number, I couldn't even imagine how much they would expand and how many victims they would create.

Behind us, the light of the stars was shining again. No need to think about the meaning of the continuous light. If they defeat the isolated Saber, the power of the Holy Grail will become even stronger. That alone would be enough to disrupt the balance. At the very least, If the battle line collapsed... until we gave up on defense and managed to destroy the Holy Grail... would anyone be left in this city?

And then, I was suddenly struck by a sense of unease. Was I forgetting something? I didn't know what. But it was incredibly important...

And in a place too far from me, yet too close to the battlefield. I saw the figure of a young girl, a sight I had grown completely accustomed to over the past few days.

"Sakura!!!"

That's right, if Kayneth, the Master, was being attacked, there was no way Sakura wouldn't be attacked as well.

I can feel the connection of the path, and the magical energy was being supplied. But I couldn't sense anything more than that. The means of communication with Sakura is one-way and not something that could be used in an emergency. In the first place, I hadn't anticipated the base’s defense being breached. A fortress protected by a massive number of Noble Phantasms cannot normally be captured. One of the few exceptions had appeared.

I dove my Vimana down and embraced the body of the girl who was running desperately. At exactly the same time. The Servant presence I felt from the insects increased, and at the same time, their numbers swelled more than tenfold.

The Vimana was swallowed in an instant, its magical energy drained. The Noble Phantasm, which could no longer maintain its function, was immediately stored in the Gate of Babylon. Even if I prepared another flying Noble Phantasm now, it wouldn't be fast enough. It would be devoured immediately.

The swarm attacked, ignoring all distinctions of the four cardinal directions and up/down. I fired Noble Phantasms in all directions, blowing them away one after another. Even so, the insects approached through the gaps in the Noble Phantasm barrage, utilizing their small size and numbers. In a situation where more than tens of millions of insects constantly surrounded and tried to crush us, that number was considerable. However, Gilgamesh's selling point was the sheer quantity of his Noble Phantasms. I was about to immediately crush them when...

"Eek—"

I heard a small scream resounding from my chest.

A face distorted by terror—so much so that I couldn't believe she was the same person as the girl who had lost her emotions. And the insects were clearly targeting her.

The hand that was about to pull out a weapon from subspace. I reflexively pulled it back and instead embraced Sakura to protect her. Most of the jumping insects were bounced off by my armor. But a few managed to crawl through the gaps in the armor and bite into my body.

"Gah, ah!"

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! I couldn't think of anything else. The pain was incomparable to what I suffered during the fight with Berserker. In terms of raw damage, the blow from Berserker should have been greater. But the sensation of being eaten while my flesh was decomposed... more than anything, Zouken Matou’s skill in torturing people, forced even minor damage to be converted into intense agony.

As the blood vessels in my brain felt like they were about to snap from the pain, I grabbed the insects and crushed them. While being aware of the throbbing in my right arm, I held Sakura tightly.

"Hii... I-I'm sorry... A-ah... I'm so... sorry."

"Kuh, you... you didn't do anything wrong. So, don't worry about anything."

While comforting Sakura, who was sobbing like a normal child, I changed the ratio of Noble Phantasm deployment.

I reduced the offensive Noble Phantasms and deployed many defensive ones. The reduction in firepower was alarming. But with this, Sakura’s safety could be maintained to some extent. However—in the current situation where we were being swarmed by insects, there was no way to escape from here. Their sheer quantity had overwhelmed my reduced offensive capability.

If I were alone, I could have forced my way out. But if I tried that while holding Sakura, the insects that leaked through would mercilessly eat her alive. I was completely stalemated.

“Ah, you bastards! Is that your purpose!?”

Sakura Matou is excellent as a magical energy source, but third-rate as a Master. She couldn't provide Magecraft support, and she couldn't use Command Spells. If taken to a battlefield, she would certainly be a burden.

Therefore, they must have thought this: Archer has the Independent Action skill. Killing his Master now might make things more troublesome if he teams up with another, more capable Master. In that case, if they intentionally leave the burdensome Master alive and guide her to the Servant. if he isn't cruel enough to kill his Master instantly, she would become a perfect burden.

They were absolutely right. I could not, under any circumstances, abandon Sakura. From the very first moment I met Sakura, I tried to convince myself many times that she was nothing more than a source of magical energy… but no matter how hard I tried, I could never bring myself to see her that way.

"I'm... sorry. I'm sorry... I'm..."

“It’s okay, there’s nothing to worry about. You don’t need to apologize, and there’s no reason to. It’s okay.”

Words without certainty. Magical energy being shaved away moment by moment. There's a limit to deceiving with a temporary comfort.

To break the situation, I have no choice but to expect a change from the outside. But that expectation was something with a very low chance of success, no matter how I thought about it.

If it came down to it, at least Sakura.. I, who had lost sight of a path for my own survival, simply kept protecting Sakura. I prepared myself for the end.