Chapter 19 : Alliance

"Now, this time it's checkmate."

Tohsaka coldly stated.

Hikigaya doesn't lower the gun he has pointed at Tohsaka, but turns his face towards Archer behind him.

"I have communicated the situation through the Command Spells. Archer can deflect the bullets from your position. There is nothing you can do. Surrender."

"...I see. What are we going to do?"

Hikigaya brushed off Tohsaka's words and directed them at Archer as if it was none of his business. No, why would he ask the enemy?

Archer closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.

"...Is it correct that the condition is to be your guard?"

"Yeah, as long as I can survive I have no complaints. You guys can do whatever you want with the Holy Grail."

"Is that acceptable to you, Caster?"

"That's something we need to discuss. You can discuss it on your own later when I'm not around."

"...I won't accept any more conditions added up later."

"I wouldn't do anything so dangerous. Well, I'm glad there was someone who understood."

While we stood there dumbfounded, the matter was quickly concluded.

Tohsaka was the first to come to her senses and hastily interject.

"Hey, Archer! What are you talking about?!"

"It's just as I heard. I will surrender to this man. Since he has offered to let me off the hook, there is no way I won't listen."

"So what?! Why do I have to surrender?! All you have to do is beat that guy up!"

"Unfortunately, Rin, it looks like that's not going to be the case."

"Huh?! What do you mean?!"

"You can tell by the smell... Ah, now that I think about it, your nose has been damaged."

Archer's words made me focus on my nose. I had been paralyzed by the tear gas, but I was beginning to recover a little.

What he could faintly smell was not exactly familiar to a high school student, but it was a smell that everyone had probably smelled before.

Once you experience it, it's hard to forget; it has a unique, pungent smell. This is...!

"Gas...gasoline?!"

Tohsaka uttered a voice that was almost a shriek.

"Why... when did this happen!?"

"It started when Emiya turned me down. If it's a secret base of evil, it comes with a self-destruct mechanism, right?"

Tohsaka's response was probably not really a question, but Hikigaya answered in a teasing manner. Perhaps he was sure of victory this time, as his grin returned. Then he asked Hikigaya,

"...Why, how did you do it? There was no sign of it!"

"Alchemy is useful."

The reply I got was very concise. So concise that for a moment I had no idea what he was saying.

"They must have remade the tear gas that was filling the air. And the gas itself was probably just water from a sprinkler."

Perhaps anticipating that I still hadn't fully grasped the situation, Archer briefly explained. I hadn't noticed, but the gas had definitely disappeared.

"That's impossible!"

Hearing this, Tohsaka screamed again.

"There's no way an average magician could synthesize that much gas in such a short amount of time without any magical equipment, and remotely!?"

"Rin, you're dealing with Caster, and this is his workshop."

"...!"

Tohsaka was frustrated by Archer's words. It may be impossible for an average magician, but it may be possible for Caster. And it is probably possible. Since it has been realized like this.

"Are you out of your mind?! Do you think you can defeat a Servant with something like this?!"

This time it was Saber who screamed.

As Saber said, a gas explosion might not be enough to damage a Servant. However...

"I guess that's impossible. Servants."

Hikigaya's voice was full of meaning. Yes, Servants aside, Masters will not escape unscathed.

"You won't get away with it!"

"Unfortunately, I'm just an amateur. If I want to compete with monsters like you, I have nothing left to risk except my life."

Hikigaya shrugged at Saber's words, to which Archer glared at him with disgust.

"…Don't say such innocent things. Surely you have some sort of insurance in place to ensure that you can escape safely?"

"Oh, did you find out?"

Hikigaya has an expression on his face like a child who has successfully pulled off a prank.

"Well, we were both lucky. If I'd had even the slightest scratch, they would have destroyed the entire school building, you know?"

He said something outrageous in a tone that sounded like casual conversation. His light-hearted tone actually sent chills down my spine.

Hikigaya's smile deepened as he continued.

"Well then, let's continue the conversation. What do you think about the alliance?"

"...You, were you just acting when you were panicking earlier?"

"No, seriously? It's not like we want to kill you guys or anything. We'll be in trouble if we don't make some allies quickly."

"Then why didn't you say so from the beginning? You lured the other party in and even set a trap. There's no way you could call it a negotiation."

"Hey, hey, you're the one who's talking? The one who just now turned down a deal that was not only something he should have accepted, but something he should have accepted."

"it is……"

"Let me ask you the opposite: if I had directly approached you to negotiate, would you have listened?"

I was quiet. Even if that had happened, it was probably...

"Normally, you would refuse. To be honest, we're weak. In terms of fighting power, we're nothing but a hindrance. There's no point in teaming up with such an opponent, right?"

That's probably what happened.

That's what I would think, and I'm sure Tohsaka wouldn't nod either.

He had no intention of attacking someone who had come to talk to him, but a non-aggression pact would be a good thing. It was certainly far from what Hikigaya wanted.

"Humans don't take seriously what people they consider inferior have to say. To get such people to listen, you need the right situation."

"It's not like I'm inferior or anything."

"An enemy that you will almost never lose in a fight, that's the same as being inferior. I'm not saying anything about them as a human being. Well, I don't really mind. It's the same as always."

What does it feel like to be looked down upon as a person all the time?

"But I don't understand."

In my place, Archer muttered something, while I was stunned and silent.

"You seem to have done a lot of research on us. How did you do it? I thought you were always on your guard."

It may seem like a casual question, but slipping through the watchful eye of two Servants is no easy feat. It's not something that can be overlooked.

Hikigaya replied lightly to that as well.

"Oh, okay then."

As he said this, he pointed to a corner of the ceiling, a spot that you wouldn't notice unless you made a conscious effort to look.

In the darkness, where at first glance there seemed to be nothing, there was something reflecting a faint light. It was a small lens.

I couldn't help but mutter.

"...A small camera?"

"And a directional microphone. It's battery-powered but it lasts quite a while. I ordered a lot of them so it's a bit of a splurge though."

A lot.

"...Could it be that they've set something up in our house too?"

"Ou"

Hikigaya nonchalantly affirms, causing Tohsaka to frown.

"Magicians seem to have a tendency to underestimate these modern conveniences. I thought that once I set it up, no one would find it."

Archer nodded in agreement at those words.

Now that he thought about it, both Tohsaka and Archer had indeed said nothing other than that there was "no magical monitoring."

Not only would it be for surveillance, but the first thing they would do would be to check for magical powers to detect presences and the presence of traps.

Since magic is both the most effective and the most dangerous, that in itself is probably not wrong, but it seems that those who know magic tend to be too focused on it. In fact, I was also completely unguarded against traps other than magic.

However, that doesn't seem to be the problem for Tohsaka.

"Hey, hey, what are you up to, you peeping tom?!"

"Peeping... I didn't set anything up in the bathroom or toilet. Besides, it's impossible to do it indoors."

"Tototo toilet?! You pervert?! Archer! Grab him!"

"Don't be ridiculous. Since the gas has reached your lungs, if it ignites, my powers won't be able to protect you."

"That's just a bluff! Gasoline is odorless, it only releases the smell!"

"Unfortunately, it's real gasoline. I've already checked. In fact, the smell is probably there only as a warning. If you get your hands on it, it won't be just a threat."

"Then cut off his arm...!"

"It's the same thing. I told you earlier that if we hurt that man, the trap would go off. And anyway, Caster is waiting behind us. It would be easy to set it on fire."

"This...that!"

"This woman is really scary..."

Hikigaya broke out into a cold sweat.

"So, can we get back on topic now? The alliance is..."

"There's no way we'd team up! You pervert!"

"...I see. Well then, there's no other way."

The reply came without a moment's hesitation, causing Hikigaya to sigh and re-aim his gun.

"……picture?"

Was the voice that spilled out my voice or Tohsaka's?

The gun was aimed straight at Tohsaka's forehead. Or rather, it looked like it was on a direct course to hit her.

No, he had always been directed at Tohsaka up until now, but this time, how should I put it, I could sense that he was serious.

Hikigaya's expression was different than any he'd had before.

If I had to put it into words, it would be giving up. So what exactly did I give up?

"Hey... Hikigaya?"

"What?"

"Are you really going to shoot me?"

"There's no other way. If we can't get him on our side, we have no choice but to defeat him."

I can't help it.

Yes, it can't be helped. That's right.

They were enemies to begin with, so if there was a breakdown in their relationship, this was bound to happen. So why am I surprised?

"... Stop it, it'll catch fire. You'll get caught in it too."

"Don't worry about that. It's been rigged so that won't happen. If you just shoot, it'll be fine. I have insurance."

transaction.

Yes, Hikigaya had proposed a deal. After all, it was a discussion.

Maybe that's why, somewhere in my heart, I was letting my guard down.

"Stop it, there's no need to kill him."

"I've said it many times before, but we're weak. We're lucky that we won this time. Next time we'll lose. That's why we have no choice but to defeat them now."

I don't intend to underestimate the Holy Grail War. In fact, I've already come close to dying twice.

But that was a situation where there was no room for conversation. The people who nearly killed me just said what they wanted to say and never spoke to me.

The other enemies, Tohsaka and Shinji, first proposed a discussion.

They ended up forming an alliance with Tohsaka, and they haven't even gotten to the point of fighting Shinji yet.

Maybe I thought that if I could communicate with the other person, it wouldn't come to the point of killing them.

"Archer! Stop it, don't look!"

Feeling impatient, I ended up yelling at him, but Archer just shook his head quietly.

Archer said that his own powers were not enough to protect Tohsaka.

If he deflects a bullet, the sparks will ignite it. Attacking Hikigaya himself will set off a trap. And since there is a curse of mutual death, he can't just kill Hikigaya, and Caster still hasn't shown up.

It may be true that there is nothing we can do. But,

(But that doesn't give us a reason to sit back and watch Tohsaka die!)

"Stop it, Hikigaya! Think again!"

"I gave you the opportunity. You're the one who took it by surprise."

Hikigaya doesn't even look at me anymore.

Tohsaka was so nervous that she didn't say a word. There was no sign of resignation in her eyes, but that was simply due to her belief, and not because she had any intention of resolving the situation.

(What should I do?! What should I do?!)

I can't do anything. Saber can't move either. Archer is unreliable. Should I just use my command spell? But what command should I give?

I can't organize my thoughts.

I felt the finger on the trigger tighten just a little, and in that moment I screamed.

"I get it! We've lost! So stop it!"

Hikigaya was shocked at those words.

"Sorry, but the time is long gone."

He answered emotionlessly.

Tohsaka closes her eyes.

The trigger――――

"Stop iteeeeeeee!!"

--The trigger was pulled.

Pass

"Ouch."

Ten, ten.

With a small sound, the "bullet" ricocheted off Tohsaka's forehead and bounded across the linoleum floor.

The orange thing rolling down the bleak hallway was――

"...B...B, bullet...?"

"What are you surprised about?"

Hikigaya said with an exasperated look on his face.

"No, I mean...huh? Huh?"

"This is Japan and I'm just a high school kid. There's no way I can get a real gun."

"Well, maybe that's true, but why a toy gun..."

"It's obviously a bluffing prop. Use your common sense, use your common sense."

As I stood there dumbfounded, Hikigaya assured me, it was a very obvious thing to say. No, in this situation, it's hard to call someone who's threatening me with a model gun common sense...

I dropped my head to the floor and took a deep breath. I was so exhausted that it was all I could do. Tohsaka and Saber were in a similar situation.

Since no one had moved, Archer spoke.

"Are you feeling a bit better?"

"Yeah. But even at this age, I'm still in debt with over seven figures... I wonder what I should do. They said I could pay it off when I get promoted, though."

"It's a small price to pay if you think of it as the price of life."

They are casually chatting about everyday things.

Apparently Archer knew the gun was fake, so he didn't seem worried at all. Could the debt be for the camera?

"So, I'll try to invite you out one last time, what will you do? If you refuse now, I'll have no choice but to kill you this time."

Then, without changing his tone at all, Hikigaya asked again.

I can't be wrong again. This is an ultimatum.

"Just to explain, I had four chances to kill you before we began negotiations. The first was the tear gas. As Archer said, that was an alchemic product. In other words, it could have been used to rain down deadly poison or strong acid instead."

Hikigaya spoke as he put the model gun back in his pocket, its purpose now fulfilled after the secret was revealed.

"And then when I used the stun gun on him."

While playing with the baton in his right hand - an electromagnetic baton that combines a baton and a stun gun - he pulls out his left hand from his pocket.

"I could have used this instead of handcuffs and a sentence."

In his hand was a knife with a blade length of about 20cm.

The blade was hollowed out to make it lighter and more lethal; it was a military knife made solely for the purpose of killing people, not for self-defense or survival.

"I would appreciate it if you could understand that the fact that you are still alive is in itself a sign of my sincerity."

"...Ah, I get it. You win."

"Uh huh. Deal done."

There will be no more negotiations.

The previous farce had taken a toll on him, and he hadn't even thought about fighting back. Or rather, the pace was just too extreme. If this was what he was aiming for, he was a really terrible guy.

Tohsaka seemed to be in a similar situation, as she didn't say anything.

"Well then, can you please release my master now? If things stay like this, I'm afraid of what will happen later."

After making sure that the matter had been settled, Archer interjected.

Hikigaya replied with a quick "Okay," and took out a key, then inserted it into the handcuffs at my feet. The handcuffs came loose with a small click.

"Well then, here is the first command from master."

Hikigaya said that to me as I stood up and checked my wrist. Well, you're not wrong, Master...

As I was wary of what he would say, Master, I mean Hikigaya, pointed down the hallway - to a large hole in the middle, a hallway that was now soaking wet with water that had somehow re-appeared from the gas, and then he put his hands together in prayer and said.

"Can you help me clean up?"

Hikigaya stuck out his tongue slightly, it was so creepy I almost hit him.

"Saber, wait a moment, I'll pull you up now."

After I was freed, I first went to rescue Saber who was still stuck in a pitfall.

Saber, still up to her chest in the muddy water, lowered her eyes apologetically.

I grabbed Saber's wrist and pulled her back. She was unexpectedly heavy, probably because of the mud.

"Just a little bit more...wait, wow!?"

"S-Shirou! Don't let me go!"

Saber almost let go of my hand and fell again, but she clung to my body instead.

"Oh, sorry! But what happened?"

Saber's armor and clothes had melted, leaving her half-naked. The muddy water was clinging to her, and how should I put it, it was very, um...

"This mud is one that nullifies magic. My armor is woven with magical power, so it seems to have been broken down."

"I, I see. But I'd like you to hide it before explaining..."

"I don't think anyone would find my body interesting."

No, that's not the issue...

"Could you please leave me alone for now? I can't move."

"...I'm sorry. This corridor disappears when I touch it, so I can't stand. If you could carry me to the other side, that would be great..."

Oh yeah, that's what Hikigaya said. Damn, what a troublesome trap he made.

With Saber still holding on to me, I struggled to take off my jacket, draped it over Saber, and then put it back on my back.

"...I'm sorry, Shirou..."

"It's fine, this much."

"No, that's not it, I couldn't protect you..."

"...Well, I guess that can't be helped. In the end, everyone was safe so don't worry about it."

As we were having this conversation, I returned to Tohsaka and the others. Tohsaka had been released from her restraints and was rubbing the area where the handcuffs had been stuck, just like me.

Zump

The sound that came suddenly was, how should I put it, extremely heavy.

When she came to, Hikigaya was crouching at Tohsaka's feet, clutching his stomach.

Perhaps it's stomach juice that is reflecting the moonlight at his mouth. His eyes are fully stretched out and his head is wide open.

"Um...Um...Tohsaka...san...?"

Judging from the situation, Tohsaka had knocked Hikigaya down. Probably.

I say probably because I had no idea what was going on, even though I hadn't taken my eyes off it.

Without replying to what I said, Tohsaka looked down and opened her mouth to speak to Archer.

"You knew it was a fake gun, right?"

"...Even so, I am still the Heroic Spirit of the Bow. I cannot mistake the authenticity of a projectile."

"yes……"

Then, silence.

Archer answered calmly, but I didn't miss the line of cold sweat rolling down his cheek.

An overwhelming silence that seemed to eat away at my mind. I wonder how long it continued.

In reality, it was probably only a few seconds, but it felt like more than a few minutes to me. If it had really lasted for several minutes, I might have gone mad. I even found myself envious of Hikigaya, who was unconscious.

As expected, it was Tohsaka who broke the silence.

Tohsaka lifts her head.

Saber on his back seemed to hold her breath.

For the first time in my life, I witnessed a true hell.

"I command you with my Command Spell! Kill yourself! Arch: "Calm down, Tohsaka--!!??""

Thus, in addition to Tohsaka, I ended up fighting in the Holy Grail War alongside Hikigaya Hachiman - but,

"Let go! You can't kill him!"

"So you can't kill him?"

Is this really okay? This...