"Sssuuu... Haaa!!!"
*Grk...*
"Heh... You've improved quite a bit overnight? Have you gotten a feel for what dragon breath is like?"
"Yes, a little..."
Artoria, who in one day can now produce a shout loud enough to shake a distant glass bottle and potentially knock it over. Did she meditate non-stop through the night? Her magical energy capacity has increased a bit compared to before. Her usage of her magical energy core is gradually improving. If this continues, she might be able to draw out her dragon power well? It will take months though.
"Growth is quite smooth, but you're still far off. Even if it's not dragon breath, a shout at Berserker's level could easily topple a glass bottle far away. Dragon breath refers to a roar surpassing Heracles's from last time. You seem to have enough of an image; if you just train as you are, you'll reach it someday."
"It seems to require quite a knack, so it's not easy..."
"Well, everyone finds the beginning difficult. But, that's it. You're actually quite fast. You quickly understand what's being taught and show signs of making it your own. My evaluation of you has been revised. At first, I thought you were a talentless person of ordinary ability compared to Setanta... but you have talent that's not inferior to Setanta's. Not that I'm saying you're a genius~ Setanta isn't a genius either, nor am I... I'm talking about monsters like Scáthach or Heracles, and farmers who cause dimensional refraction."
"Just which country's farmers cause dimensional refraction?"
"This one."
"???"
It's true... A real farmer is like that. Insane talent. Genius refers to those kinds of monsters; compared to them, we're only at the level of gifted children.
"It's only taking a long time because Merlin raised you as a human unnecessarily and applied adjustments, but if that talent were allowed to bloom without restraint, you might become material surpassing Setanta. Of course, I'd have to actually see it to judge."
"Having talent... That's a recognition I haven't heard in a long time."
"... How does it feel to have the burden of kingship off your shoulders, even if just for a while? Artoria."
"... I still don't really know. As you know, I'm still a living body. For me, this is like a dream."
"Is that so... Well, I understand that feeling too. If you're carrying the heavy burden of being king, an uneasy heart flickers in your chest somewhere within a happy daily life. You are still unable to leave your final destination (Camlann). The time given to us is not long. To appear in the humiliating form of a Servant (familiar) in a shoddy magical ritual called the Holy Grail War, it's not just for a wish, but to come out for a second life and unfulfilled desires from life. And some answer the call for a happy new life."
"A new life..."
"We are all Servants whose stories have already ended. So, we dream of a new and happy life rather than a tragic past life. I won't say anything more. Think about whether that wish you have for the Holy Grail is truly what you yourself desire. The time given to us is not long... It's about time for school to end, shall we go meet them?"
"... Yes, let's go."
Artoria seems to be seriously pondering her own wish continuously because of me. I hope she discards that obsession.
"It's not your fault."
"Huh?"
"Just... I wanted to say this for someone else."
Isn't that right? Merlin.
Arriving at the school gate with Artoria... but they're not coming out? Is something happening?
"Hmm... Let's go inside."
"Understood."
Just as I was about to try spiritualization, a magical energy reaction is detected inside. We both sense it simultaneously and run inside. There, Rin had become a magical girl and was fighting Rider. Shirou is bleeding from the back.
"Master!"
"I'll handle the healing, you go help!"
"Understood...!"
She quickly summons her sword and rushes at Rider. Rin, you're still not used to it even though Ruby is teaching you. It's because you're embarrassed about being a magical girl.
I quickly heal Shirou with runes and rush at Rider.
*BOOM!!!*
"Kuhak!!!"
Rider, who had many openings while facing two opponents. I charge at her and punch her abdomen hard. Sent flying far by that, Rider crashes into a building's exterior wall and falls. *Pshhh...* Rider turns to ashes and disappears. This is just one of her Book of False Attendants burning and disappearing. She must have gone back to Sakura.
"Did we defeat her?"
"No, she escaped. A troublesome opponent in a different sense."
So, if it's not an instant kill, she can escape using a Book of False Attendant as a sacrifice. I didn't anticipate this. Anyway... Is this the magecraft of the family that created the Command Spells? If the second Book of False Attendant also disappears, she'll become fully Sakura's Servant and fighting will become troublesome... We should avoid that worst-case scenario.
"Ah~ Seriously! I could have caught her!"
"There will be another chance, Rin. Since it's come to this, shall we eat together?"
"Food...!"
"No, I'm fine. Let's go back, Archer..."
[This is this~ But then when evening comes, aren't you the one who goes to their house to eat together~!?]
"You shut up! I'm not going!"
This is this, she was about to go but because of Ruby she's not going instead. That's a shame. Artoria also has a disappointed expression. Servants have many aspects; I guess this is the gluttony aspect. Living spirits don't have that... What if I appear with a different aspect? That's a bit worrying... According to Connacht's records, I'm depicted as a terrifying slaughterer... Perhaps, the possibility of Fergus Alter might emerge. That's an unbearable imagination... I hope that doesn't happen.
"Then see you tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'll see you tomorrow."
I return to the Tohsaka residence with Rin. It's a night where all sorts of things seem likely to happen. Somehow, the signs aren't good? But I gave Artoria a communication rune stone to call if anything happens... It'll be fine.
"Hey Archer, what do you usually do with Saber?"
"Just, we're of the same type, right? We have various conversations and spend time leisurely. For Servants like us, this very moment itself is a miracle."
"... If you say that, I can't say anything. Fine~ I won't say anything, so do as you please. You don't seem like you'd betray me anyway."
"Don't you intend to use the card I gave you?"
"Th, that, why are you bringing that up now!?"
"The card I gave you last time. I wondered who to make it, made it Medb, then changed it to Scáthach and gave it to you. Aren't you going to use it?"
"I'm not going to use it!"
"Hmm, what a shame. I went through the trouble of making it."
[Then I'll show you~!]
"Hey! What are you──"
At that moment, Ruby jumps out and, along with the Class Card, emits an intense light... and Rin transforms.
"I told you... not to do it!!!"
"Hoh... This suits you quite well. Anyone can see she's an Ulster woman."
[Ufufu~! Rin-san secretly tried transforming in the school warehouse and was su~per embarrassed~! This is the liveliness of a teenage girl~!]
"I'll kill you, damn staff! Why did it change into a spear and make a fuss!?"
"If the outfit is embarrassing, shall I change the design like Setanta's?"
"... Sigh, if I have to do it anyway, then do that instead. This is too perverted..."
"That's too harsh on my wife."
"Ah, sorry."
"That's fine if you know."
"You're really bold at times like this...?"
I'm a 600-year-old geezer, you know... I'm not a child, Rin.
I adjust the card and change the design. Such a picky Master. What's wrong with that?
The night deepens, Rin falls asleep, and I pass the time talking with Ruby. Then, a communication comes.
"Hello?"
"Archer! Shirou has disappeared! Tracking the magical energy residue, it's in the direction of the distant mountain!"
"Ah, understood. I'll go right away."
So it's happening after all. I quickly dash out of the house and head for Ryuudou Temple. I'd like to face Kojirou... but it's better for Artoria to handle Kojirou. Since Caster's target is Artoria, having the two fight isn't good.
Changing Caladbolg into shoes, I quickly fly through the sky to Ryuudou Temple. Arriving before the steps, I quickly climb them. And I encounter Kojirou guarding the mountain gate.
"This is this, the cunning fox did a kidnapping. Has an opponent to fight finally come?"
"I'm sorry about that? Your opponent is coming up behind. Looking at you, you're a swordsman, how about fighting Saber?"
"Hoh? That's an interesting story... It doesn't seem like a lie, and she'll handle it herself. Facing two alone is tough for me too, you see."
"Thank you. Later, let's have a proper match."
"That's a welcome story."
Putting aside my disappointment, I pass through the mountain gate and enter Ryuudou Temple. In one corner of the temple, Medea was tying up Shirou. Just before she steals the Command Spells, I block her path.
*Whoosh!!!*
"Ugh! A Servant!?"
Since I'm an Archer for now, I fire arrows to make her dodge back and free Shirou from his restraints.
"Wasn't there an Assassin!?"
"He said there's another opponent, so he let me pass? They must not get along well."
"That man..."
Does Medea look angry? But...
"Hmm..."
"You seem like an Archer... but aren't you that child's Servant?"
"... We're in an alliance for now. Hey, by any chance, have we met before?"
"What are you suddenly talking about?"
"No... I'm sure we haven't met, but I feel like I've seen you somewhere."
"... You must be mistaken."
It seems she also feels some inexplicable sense of déjà vu, like me. Let's not think strange thoughts. She and I have never met; this is my first Holy Grail War. All the more impossible. This is a Holy Grail War where thoughts multiply...
"Then, shall we?"
*Tat!!!*
I quickly rush at her, and she teleports above before firing numerous magical bullets. I change to a spear and rapidly spin it, cutting down and canceling the magical bullets. An ability similar to Gáe Dearg, which has the effect of erasing magical energy—it's the ultimate match against Casters. If Gáe Dearg severs magical connections to temporarily cancel, mine is nullification. After all, it's the ultimate masterpiece created by Scáthach.
"Kuh...! [Hecatic Graiae] (Priestess Magecraft Gray Bride)!!!"
A great magecraft formula engraved in the sky. A Noble Phantasm-level magical cannon falls upon me, and I draw Caladbolg, changed into a bow.
"{Caladbolg}" (The Piercing, Gouging Arrow of Shooting Down)
*Paa-aaaang!!!!*
The fired red arrow pierces through her magical cannon and flies towards her.
"Kyaaaaah!"
She unfolds multiple layers of defensive magecraft to block, but that power couldn't be stopped by that degree.
*Thud...!*
Soon, Medea, who survived by using recovery magecraft to the maximum along with her defensive magecraft, falls and collapses. I immediately draw a rune and restrain her. No matter how much she's a witch from the Age of Gods, one of the world's greatest magi, instantly deciphering Primordial Runes to escape is impossible.
*Srrr...!*
"Now, it's over, Caster."
"Ah...."
She tried to escape, but Medea cannot move due to the Primordial Runes. I aim an arrow at her, her hood falls off, and our eyes meet.
Why... are you shedding tears?
They're not tears of fear, tears shed before death. They were... tears as if meeting a longed-for person. Clearly, she also didn't seem to know me, and even now, she seems not to understand why she's shedding tears.
Why does my chest ache...?
Surely, even if I know of her, I had never met her. This is our first meeting. Why do I feel such emotions towards someone I've just met...?
*Fzzzt...!*
"...."
Just now, what was that...?
"...."
I slowly lower the bow and put away my weapon. And I release the magecraft restraining her.
"Ah..."
"Go... My will to kill has disappeared. A whim just this once, go back."
"... Why are you letting me go."
"I wonder... Probably, the reason is the same as yours? Just go. I don't want to talk about this anymore."
"...."
She puts her hood back on and disappears with the light of teleportation. Just what... was that...
"Hey, Archer. Are you acquainted with Caster?"
"... I wonder. I definitely think not... but both she and I seem to feel something inexplicable. Somehow, it feels like we've learned something we shouldn't know... Let's leave it. Let's go. Artoria must be waiting outside. Probably, though she seems to have been defeated."
I take Shirou and leave Ryuudou Temple, descending from the mountain gate. The match was, as expected, Artoria's defeat.
"The cunning fox lost..."
"She's alive. We agreed to stop fighting, so let's have our match another time. I'm not in the mood for that now..."
"Is that so? That's a shame. Looking at your expression, something has disturbed your state of mind, though I don't know what. Next time, face me with a proper mindset."
"Yes, I will... Let's go, Artoria."
"I'm sorry, Archer, for losing..."
"In swordsmanship, I'd lose too? Don't worry about it, let's go home."
I see the two off to their home and head for the Tohsaka residence. Just what... was that?