"Is something the matter, Lancer?" Isasviel says.

The Einzbern homunculus and her Servant walk side-by-side through the bustling city center, the latter constantly looking around. His facial expression kept switching between amazement, confusion, and skepticism.

Or he might just be trying to get used to the modern attire his Master gave him to blend in.

"Everything is alright," Enkidu says. "I am simply... taking in the advancements humanity has made in the last four thousand years."

Most of the things he's seeing would be unthinkable back then. Metallic frames on four wheels, traveling faster than any animal on land without any Magecraft. Buildings that reached up to the heavens. Clothing and luxury items that could have only been afforded by royalty available to everyone.

"Oh? And what is your assessment?" Isasviel asks.

"My view is of no relevance," Enkidu says. "I am simply a weapon, a broken one, but a weapon nonetheless."

That's the reason the gods made Enkidu. A weapon isn't supposed to act on its own, have an opinion, or voice any complaints to its wielder. But even with all their power, they couldn't account for a simple factor called humanity.

"Broken?" Isasviel says. "Explain."

"I am broken because I defied my original purpose," Enkidu says. "But because of that, I was able to redefine myself and chose to walk alongside humanity and become its tool."

The thought of an artificially created being going against its creator's wishes seems like an alien concept to Isasviel. She's been given life and a purpose by the Einzberns. If she were to abandon that, there would be no meaning to her existence.

She dismisses that line of thinking.

"But rest assured, Master," Enkidu says. "The past is behind me and I understand my present role perfectly well."

"Even if you have to fight Archer?" Isasviel asks.

She wonders if her Servant can bring himself to strike down someone he considers a friend when the time comes. Attachments, feelings, or friendship have no place on the battlefield. It's either kill or be killed. And a Servant's sentiments cannot cost the Einzberns the war.

"There is no need to be concerned about that at all," Enkidu says. "In fact, I am looking forward to fighting him again and I know that he feels the same way."

"I see," Isasviel says.

Perhaps her worries are unfounded after all.

They continue to wander without a real destination in mind. Isasviel occasionally stops to view the display windows of some shops.

Enkidu remains at her side at all times. Her curiosity at the many things in their environment reminds him of the time when he gained sentience and learned from Humbaba. Maybe having a Master like her is not so bad for someone like him.

"Let's go in there!" Isasviel says.

"A... boutique?" Enkidu says. "Very well, if that is your wish."

They proceed inside. Enkidu silently observes the exchange between his Master and the clerk. After touring the store and picking up several clothes, he waits as she tries on one outfit after another. Every so often, she steps out of the changing room to inspect herself in the mirror.

"I must say, you seem to be enjoying yourself," Enkidu says. "Is this what humans do in this day and age to entertain themselves?"

"I wouldn't know, this is my first time in the outside world," Isasviel says.

"Really?" Enkidu asks.

"Yes, ever since my creation, I have been living in a castle surrounded by perpetual snow," Isasviel says. "I only had fleeting bits of knowledge of the outside world and only saw it for the first time on my way to Fuyuki."

She twirls to see her crimson dress from different angles.

"Do you think we shouldn't have come here?" Isasviel says. "I know the ultimate fate that awaits me as the Grail's vessel, so this venture is rather pointless. But I just... I wanted to indulge my momentary curiosity."

"Far be it from me to tell you what to do," Enkidu says. "But Gil always used to say that you should do as you desire. Those are the words he and I lived by. I find no issue with you making the most out of what precious time you have left."

Isasviel chuckles. It's the first time Enkidu has seen her show any form of emotion, but is still perplexed by the reaction.

"Did I say something strange?" Enkidu asks.

"No, you see, the maids who have looked after me all my life," Isasviel says. "Homunculi, artificial beings like you and me, would tell me the exact opposite. So, this is a refreshing change for me."

"I see," Enkidu says. "Then how about we explore more of the modern era before we return to the castle? But first..."

Enkidu turns away and faces the entrance to the shop.

"This is as far as you go," Enkidu says.

Isasviel takes a look at the man who stepped into the shop. He seems like a random civilian, but on closer inspection, he's giving off faint traces of magecraft, an empty look in his eyes.

"State your business," Isasviel says.

The man bows. "Greetings to you, too, Einzbern Master. Lancer."

"Caster," Isasviel says. "What do you want?"


Saying that Shinto Town is busy during a workday would be an understatement. Traffic builds up in the early morning. Crowds of pedestrians, shoppers, and people going to work swarm the pavements.

I sneak a glance across the street while pretending to be terribly interested in the magazine selection of this convenience store. A bunch of policemen have the apartment building on the other side locked down as paramedics ferry dead bodies under white sheets.

The media is all over the recent string of murders and has advised the populace to be cautious at night. Of course, they're never going to catch the culprit because it's that damned Assassin.

Jack the Ripper makes no effort to hide his murders is no surprise. What is surprising is that his Master just goes along with it. There are two Masters that I haven't assigned a Servant to yet: Tokiomi Tohsaka and the Matou Master.

The former would never allow, much less risk, the exposure of Magecraft to the public. This leads me to believe that Assassin belongs to the Matous. However, that brings up another problem...

Archer is with Lawson, Lancer with the Einzberns, Caster with Hawthorne, while Rider with that girl from the Atlas Institute. Assassin works for the Matous, and Berserker with that hooded executor we encountered at the start of the war.

But where does Tokiomi fit into this? He wouldn't just sit this war out, so what is he doing? He hasn't left his house at all since the war started, according to my surveillance. I must have missed something, but what?

"I have returned," Jeanne says.

"Find anything over there?" I ask. She's been scouting in spirit form.

Jeanne shakes her head. "Nothing that we do not already know. The police are at a loss while Assassin continues his atrocities unabated."

"Hmm, it was worth a shot," I say, taking out a small map of the city and marking the location. "We'll get him eventually."

Most of his killings are done in Miyama and Shinto Town. Once we get back, I'll see if I can find a pattern to his murders and hopefully predict where he'll strike next.

I pocket the map and turn to Jeanne. "Well, that's all for today. Caster's hideout remains unknown, but there are a few leads on where Rider could be. I'll send a familiar to scout those locations out later."

"You want to go home already?" Jeanne asks. "The day has just begun and the weather is so nice. Let us go somewhere!"

I shrug. "I guess there's no harm in it, but I don't know any good places. We'll just have to wing it."

"I saw a nice café on the way here," Jeanne says. "How about we take a break there after all the legwork we did?"

"Sounds good to me," I say.

We exit the store and arrive at our destination a few minutes later. The café is decently busy, but there are a couple tables left outside.

We take a seat next to each other and scan over the menu. Seems like they also offer a variety of desserts alongside their wide selection of coffee.

"Oho, who do we have here?" a male voice says. "Saber and her Master."

My eyes dart to the source of the voice and my hand instinctively reaches into my coat.

Though he's wearing modern clothes, it's unmistakably Ozymandias with his Master in tow approaching our table without a care.

"Rider?" Jeanne says. "What are you doing here?"

We're in broad daylight, surrounded by civilians. We can't just start a fight here, so what the hell is he thinking approaching us like we're friends or something?

"Hmph, such a pointless question," Ozymandias says, taking a seat. "I am observing this new era."

The girl, I believe her name is Talia, quietly takes the other seat across me at the table.

"And you came to us because...?" I say.

Ozymandias turns his head as if he only noticed me now. I meet his gaze head-on. His eyes are the color of the sun, a bright gold. Dizziness starts to set in and my vision begins to blur. Only a few seconds pass and I'm forced to look away.

For a moment, my head felt like it was going to split in two. Are those Mystic Eyes?

"Under normal circumstances, I would have you killed for such insolence," Ozymandias says. "But I shall attribute your lack of respect toward the mightiest of the Pharaohs to sheer ignorance. Truly, my magnanimity knows no bounds."

Before Jeanne or I can respond, the waitress arrives and puts the conversation on hold.

"Welcome to our café, what would you like to order?" she asks with a bright smile on her face.

Talia is the one who breaks the momentary silence. "Uhm, I would like one piece of the chocolate cake."

"The same for me please, along with a café latte," Jeanne says.

"I'll just take a cappuccino," I say.

"Understood," the waitress says.

She turns to Ozymandias, who has the menu in his hands by now.

"I will have this drink you labeled as Egyptian coffee," Ozymandias says.

The waitress writes the orders down and leaves afterward.

If someone would have told me that I'd be sitting at one table with an enemy Master and Servant at a café this morning, I'd have laughed in their face. Yet here we are.

Ozymandias now turns his attention to Jeanne. Unlike me, she doesn't seem to be affected by whatever he used on me.

"Is something the matter, King of the Sun?" Jeanne asks. "If there is something you wish to say to me then go ahead."

"There is a saying in this era," Ozymandias says. "That the eyes are the window to the soul. I have always been capable of judging one's character by peering into their eyes. In you, I see fierce resolve, conviction that can only be met with admiration, and unwavering determination. However, there is one thing you must answer."

"And what would that be?" Jeanne asks.

"Your reason for fighting in this war," Ozymandias says. "I am vaguely familiar with your history. So tell me, what is it that you desire of this Holy Grail?"

So, he figured out her identity, huh? I guess it was bound to happen eventually.

"I have nothing to ask of the Grail," Jeanne says. "But I have pledged my banner and my sword to fulfill my Master's wish. All I have ever wanted is the protection of humanity and virtue."

Ozymandias closes his eyes, pondering her answer. "Sacrificing everything for the sake of others and wishing for the entire world's happiness... A splendid answer!"

I notice a couple of the other customers at the nearby tables giving our group weird looks after Ozymandias's loud exclamation. They resume what they are doing moments later, probably chalking it up to the weird antics of a foreigner.

"Had you given a different answer, I would have had no choice but to eliminate you here and now," Ozymandias says. "But it seems that your reputation was not exaggerated."

"That seems a little extreme to me," I say.

"Fool, have you already forgotten?" Ozymandias says. "I believe I said this during our first encounter: I hold interest in heroes who are pure and honest in nature. The only other Servants in this war that are worthy of my attention are the Golden King and that friend of his."

The waitress from earlier returns to our table with our ordered items on a tray. Once everything is set down, she promptly leaves.

I put a bit of sugar in my coffee. Ozymandias, on the other hand, seems to stare down his drink for a bit before picking up the cup.

Talia watches him as he takes a sip and closes his eyes again as if to savor the taste.

"What do you think?" Talia asks.

"Passable," Ozymandias says.

Talia sighs in relief. Part of me wonders what Ozymandias would have done if it wasn't to his liking, but perhaps I shouldn't find out.

On a different topic, maybe I could use this chance to get some info out of them. Talia is a few years younger than me. She might let something slip due to her inexperience. But she's still a mage and an enemy Master. I shouldn't let my guard down.

"You said that you're only interested in Saber, Archer, and Lancer," I say. "Then what about the others?"

"Insignificant," Ozymandias says. "Caster's parlor tricks would not even qualify him to be a jester at my royal court. Assassin is a coward, nothing more. But even he cannot hide from the radiance of the sun forever."

"And Berserker?" I ask. "I believe he was King..."

"Kings do not compare to the almighty Pharaohs," Ozymandias says. "But even among those, Berserker is of low rank. He struggled to keep his kingdom together as he suffered countless defeats from the King of Conquerors. Now, he is reduced to naught but a mad beast."

I couldn't get the name, but those are plenty of clues to pin down Berserker's true identity.

"What about you, Pharaoh Ozymandias?" Jeanne asks. "What is your wish upon the Holy Grail?"

"The Holy Grail is a sinful object," Ozymandias says. "It holds no power over me, unlike those regular Heroic Spirits. To me, it is merely a stepping stone. As to what it will lead, well, I will arrive at that conclusion soon enough."

He's dodging the question, but Jeanne doesn't ask further. Not like the answer to that really matters. If he wins, I'll probably not be around anymore to see his wish anyway.

I glance over to Talia, who notices my gaze shortly after.

"What?" Talia asks.

"I don't know if you're here on behalf of Atlas or your family," I say. "I was just wondering why they sent someone as young as you."

She'd have to be a prodigy or something, right? That's the only logical explanation I can come up with at least.

"It's not like I wanted to be here," Talia says. "Things just kind of ended up that way."

Yeah, I'm not buying that one.

The conversation winds down as we tend to our food or drinks. And then-

"Ah, you are all here, wonderful," a voice says.

Some random civilian I've never met before approaches our table. From the look in his eyes, I have a pretty good idea of who's actually speaking through him.

Jeanne tenses up, ready to intervene if he tries anything.

"Hmph, you do not even possess the decency to show yourself in person, Caster," Ozymandias says, remaining in his seat with his arms folded. "To appear before me without permission is a grave insult. Your list of transgressions is only increasing further."

"I simply prefer not to be attacked while extending my invitations to everyone," Caster says.

"Get lost," I say. "I, for one, am tired of you and your antics."

"Come now, what is life without a little bit of excitement?" Caster says. "At any rate, you are all cordially invited to a gala in two days time."

"Do you expect us to simply walk into another trap?" Jeanne asks.

Caster waves his finger. "I figured you would be suspicious, which is why I will make it worth your while. I swear upon my true name, that I will be there in person. If you think you can kill me, you are welcome to try."

"We're supposed to just take your word for it?" I ask. "You do realize that doesn't mean a lot coming from a demon."

"I am deeply hurt by your mistrust, but reassured by your intelligence," Caster says. "Either way, the invitation still stands. Oh, and if it is of any interest, Archer and Lancer have already agreed to come to the festivities."

"Hoh?" Ozymandias says. "Then consider me interested."

Really? That's what got his attention?

Caster bows. "I hoped you would be. Until then."

He turns around and leaves, disappearing in the crowd.

Silence settles in. Jeanne and I exchange glances while Ozymandias finishes his drink and gets up.

"I have seen enough, I am satisfied," Ozymandias says. "Saber, do your best to survive until the very end. When the time comes, I shall face you."

He turns around and leaves. Talia barely managed to finish her piece of cake and hurries after him. I get the feeling that the Servant is ordering the Master around in this relationship.

"What do you make of Caster's proposal?" Jeanne asks.

"I'm not sure," I say. "I don't trust anything he says. On the other hand, there'll be multiple Servants present. This could be an opportunity for us."

"I concur," Jeanne says. "But we have to be careful."

"Yeah, I know," I say. "Let's talk tactics later. We don't know if someone's listening in and..."

I look at the table in front of me again and sigh.

"Everything alright?" Jeanne asks.

"They left without paying," I say. "First, they come to us and we end up footing their bill. The nerve of that guy."

Jeanne smiles. "I would say that applies to a lot of rulers."