Chapter 4 Hunting
"I see. So, Lancer's Master just happen to have mana break down and have half of his magical circuits destroy before he could get to Irisviel. Care to tell me what happen, Jalter?" Naruto questioned with his arms crossed, standing in front of the Avenger Ruler.
Saber and Irisviel watched on how this will play out. The Servant of the Sword that her master had nothing to do with Lancer's Master having panic attack and wonder what Avenger's game was here. Like why she will do something like that to a master on list and risk a duel between knights. She was lucky that Lancer was still around due her to still having the curse wound.
Jalter shrugged her shoulders and said, "Because I feel like it. That crybaby Kayneth or whatever had it coming. You told me to stay here and help snowy here anyway I can. So, I did what I thought was right and avoid any rule breaking. Be happy that I didn't burn his skin off while he still alive."
Naruto narrowed his eyes and thought what the white-haired servant told him, being some good points but it doesn't make her right to harm Lancer's Master in such away.
The black-haired teen soon relaxes with a sigh leaving his lips and said, "Let's repair the damage, set the traps back up, and have new base to set up shop at."
Everyone was taken back at this sudden change of emotion from Naruto and understand why his change.
"Very well, I will call in some contracts for a new base and re-set the traps back in motion. Saber can you please walk with me," Irisviel said as she walks out of the main room.
"Of course, Irisviel," Saber agreed, going with her master and leaving the two rulers to themselves which she felt that she didn't what to leave Naruto for some reason.
Jalter stood quiet, waiting for Naruto to speak but to her surprise he didn't and attack her for what she had done. She wonders why but didn't push her luck with this Saber Ruler.
"You know you're an odd one for sure," Jalter said.
"How so?" Naruto asked as he got back into his normal cloths for now.
"Most Rulers or Servants will have killed me for what I have done but I like I said before, I don't care what others say I do. However, you have not attack me or slap me like some child taking some cookies," Jalter responded.
Naruto could tell that Jalter was testing him and see how different he was. He sometimes wonders if his Saber Servant had changed him in more ways than one. Back then he would act like idiot to run head first into battle and will have yell at Avenger for what she had done. Now he was different and mature like a knight that will one day be a Holy Emperor for everyone to follow him to bright future.
The black-haired teen wonders his changes but was very grateful and happy for the changes he went through and will treasure that within his heart.
"You're right but I won't because I want us to work together. I want us to work and fight together not as partners but as friends," Naruto replied with calm smile on his face.
Jalter blushed on what he said, being very shock for what he said and was lost for words.
"W-w-well t-that's surprise. You are really one of a kind, Naruto. I will be happy to work alongside you as a friend as well," Jalter said, having her head turn away to avoid the knight to see her blushed face but he saw it and won't push it.
Naruto just smile as the two rulers walked out of the main room and help the other two set up traps and stand guard for other Servants or Mages that might come knocking by to look for trouble.
With Rider
Rider was having the time of her life. Not only she gets to see the modern era but met her master's fake grandparents and did a little job for him. She had fun as her grin on her face didn't left her.
"I told you! Go into spirit form when you come and go!" Waver shouted in a low manner as he dragged his desk to the bed and get a spare bed out for his servant.
"Yes, but if I had done so then I won't have gotten this. Wearing these cloths kept people from asking questions about me," Rider said, pointing a bag by her feet and made a good point.
"And boy, it was you who order me to do it."
That hit the nail on the head, getting Waver to glare and groan that Rider was right as he started to set up his work place to try something out in order to find Caster.
"Why must I, the King of Conquers must do some carry work for you?" Rider asked, wondering what her master has plan.
"Because there are better things to do then set around to eat and play video games," Waver replied as he brought out his tools that Rider got him and started his work.
Waver got all the tubes that has simples of water from the main water lines in Fuyuki and dropped a tip of detection magic, causing the first simple to have some red.
"That is interesting," Rider said, seeing the simple's changes.
"Someone has been using magic and mana was left behind in the main water lines," Waver said as he kept testing the simples, getting redder and easy to pin point Caster's base.
"Hey boy, did you know you will find something?" Rider asked, seeing her master was getting closer.
"No but this city has one of the biggest main water lines and someone is will have left some mana behind in those water lines," Waver replied.
Rider nodded her head and was quite happy for her master to do a simple thing to find their target. She then saw her master put the last simple to see it redder than the others and pasted a clear one, causing him to hum.
"Rider, was there entrees between here and here? A sewer pile or water entrees?" Waver asked as he pointed the spots on the map.
"Oh yes, a good size to get in," Rider responded, remembering when she gets the simples and saw a big opening.
"That should be where we will find Caster," Waver said as started to clean up.
"Hmm I must say that was interesting. Do Mages have that skill to find Servants like that?" Rider asked as she set down and read the newspaper.
"I don't think so. Some Mages rather go with some high-ranking mage craft, but this stuff is basic. Wait a minute!? You are making fun of me, aren't you?" Waver asked, wondering if Rider was making fun of him like always.
"Nope, quite the opposite. Do some so simple while others often use some strange and odd magic. You on the other hand just find an easy way and for that I'm proud," Rider answered with a grin on her face.
Waver was taken back of this and before he could speak, Rider got up with her sword out.
"Now we know where Caster is hiding. Let's give a good beating," Rider said with a grin as she walks towards the door.
"Wait a minute. You know that you are walking into enemy territory?"
"I know."
"You baka. You can't just run in. Caster must have traps set up and running will get us kill."
Rider groan at her master and said, "Listen boy, we have happened to know where the enemy is and that gives us all the reason to take enemy down. A good conquest waits for us and battle is ahead."
Waver wasn't so sure, but Rider did make a good point for them to attack Caster now then wait for the last second. He wasn't sure if they are the only ones to know where Caster is out and that gives the reason to attack now.
"Don't look so easy to give up before the battle hasn't started. You maybe love it when we get started," Rider said with a grin on her face and she was looking forward on taking the enemy down.
This should be interesting.
Small Time Skip
Rider was laughing as her chariot cut down all the bug like monsters that stood in her way with her master by her side. The pair kept riding deeper into Caster's lair, being darker and got a cold feeling. The red-haired servant could not sense Caster and could only guest that he was out somewhere else, but she soon saw something head within an open dome place and stopped the chariot.
"It looks like Caster is not home…hmmm," Rider said with a low hummed and narrowed her eyes.
"And why are we stopping?" Waver asked as he jumps off the chariot.
"Hey boy, I rather you come back here. There is something you shouldn't see."
"Oh, shut up!" Waver called out as he threw a germ that soon shine the whole area and soon wished he didn't for what he saw.
The young mage saw horror and death before. He saw the bodies of fifteen children spread out around the area, looking dead days ago and that a monster had done something to them before they die. This had caused Waver to lose himself as he throw up and dropped to his knees, losing himself.
Rider sighed as she got off her chariot and said, "Your reaction is same as anyone see this kind of horror. So, don't feel bad."
"Shut up! You not evening doing anything," Waver said as he cleans himself up and dry up the tears that dare to come down his face.
"If someone didn't answer to this horror, then I will punch them hard."
"What do you mean punch them, you baka."
"Because this is not the time to deal with emotion…not when an enemy hide in the shadows."
Before Waver could say anything, he soon saw Rider draw out her sword and swung it towards a shadow figure, causing it to jump back and show themselves.
"Not when my master is in danger," Rider said as she saw something was off.
Two Assassin came out of the shadows, glaring at the two and draw their draggers out with a hiss leaving their months.
"Assassin? But that's impossible! I saw him die!" Waver called out in shock.
"It seems Assassin fake his death. Clever trickiest," Rider said a she got herself but don't needed to as the two cloaked assassins left.
This was odd to say the least.
"Hmm it seems Assassin has been called to return back to the shadows. Let's leave and don't worry about the bodies, I have way to fix that," Rider said as she gets back into her chariot with her master following her.
The red-haired rider then rose her sword, creating a spark of lightning as her chariot rode off and started a fire to burn the bodies, giving a good bye. Waver whipped his tears as the two left the dome area and towards the main pipe they came from.
"With Caster's base destroy, he will have no choose but to come out and grain a good beating," Rider said as she ruffled her master's hair.
"Stop it!" Waver cried out, causing his servant to laugh at him.
"Let's be off!" Rider called off as they left the area and towards where they come from.
With Naruto
Naruto was watching the calm night sky, being his time to guard and keep watch for any Servants. As a Ruler, he will have a little trouble in finding Servants and started to think in deep thought some things. He failed to notice someone coming behind him and called his name to gain his attention.
"Naruto?"
Naruto turn around to who called him and saw Irisviel standing before him.
"Iri? Is there something wrong?" Naruto asked.
Irisviel shook her head and said, "Nothing is wrong, I just wanted some fresh air and maybe talk with you."
"Of course," Naruto said, offering the white-haired mage to be at his side and she did.
The pair stood quiet as they watch the night sky and stars that shin in the night. The black-haired teen looked at the white-haired woman from the corner of his eye and could not help to blush at her beatify. He never met any girls after he become a Demi-Servant and mature after his Grail War because back then he was idiot and not know when girls are hitting or making their move on him.
But now it was different, and this was new to Naruto as he never met a woman like Irisviel or Arturia or Jalter before. This was an odd satiation but not a bad one and need to say something.
"Iri?" Naruto spoked, breaking quietness.
"Y-yes," Irisviel answered.
"I know that is not my place to ask but what do you plan to do when the Grail War is over?" Naruto asked, wanting to start something to talk with and that came into mind.
Irisviel was taken back of this sudden question and understand why Naruto will ask that. He was the Ruler of this Grail and wonders what other master's wish are for this war.
"I-I don't know. As an Einzbern and master is this Grail War, I must grain the third true magic, Heaven's Feel," Irisviel answered.
"Then?" Naruto asked.
"Then what?"
"What will you do next? Once the Grail War is over, what will you do?"
"I don't know. I was only created to be in this war and grain the Heaven's Feel. I really don't know what too do next. It's hard for me," Irisviel responded with her head lowered in shame.
This got Naruto to look at Irisviel and was in deep thought. From what he was told by the Light of the Grail. The Einzberns always have their masters made to be in the Grail or otherwise known as homunculus. Another sad fact was that they have only, several years to live and that Naruto didn't want for the white-haired mage to endure.
The black-haired teen then didn't something out of nowhere and caused a sudden surprise within the white-haired woman.
Naruto had brought Irisviel into a hug with his arms wrapped her waist and she was shocked that she didn't know what do but hugged back with her arms wrapped around his neck. Irisviel felt warm within side of her like the blush on her face and feel happy with the arms of the Ruler. Naruto was happy as well and smile a little.
"I promise you Irisviel that I will help your life as your own person. Even if I can't stay in this war after the Grail War, I promise you that I use all the time I have, Iris," Naruto said with a warm smile on his face.
Irisviel's eyes widen for second then relax with a smile on face and brought her body to be up against the man that made her felt so alive. Naruto closed his eyes and kept warm hug, both not saying a word and relax in the night sky.
This was the start of something new for the two.
AN: Quick note that I will be doing some rewriting on the chapters when Fate/Zero act over (quiet a ways) and I might have an anime opening song for this act but will take some time and need help on that.