Chapter 40 : Hero

All I could do was watch as Hikigaya-kun was defeated.

It wasn't because I couldn't understand the situation, or because I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere. My body just wouldn't move.

A dagger stuck in the floor.

It was suddenly hurled from above, but thanks to Hikigaya-kun pushing it away it didn't hit me.

But it seemed to have only grazed my leg. There was a small tear in my stocking, and a trickle of blood was seeping out. And with that alone, I was unable to move.

An extremely powerful paralyzing poison. It sapped all the strength from my body in an instant, and I was no longer able to even cry out. And in that moment, a powerful blow hit Hikigaya-kun in the face, blowing him into the wall and leaving him motionless.

"...It responded well to that attack too. So you've survived this long purely on the talent you were born with. It's a pity, if you had trained under me you might have grown into an interesting user. Don't you think so, Rin?"

The guy who defeated Hikigaya-kun knew that I couldn't speak, so he asked me that.

Kotomine Kirei.

We came here to meet this man.

"You bastard! How dare you treat my master!"

An enraged Caster leapt from behind Kirei.

She loves Hikigaya-kun more than just as her Master. It was obvious that this would happen if she laid a hand on him.

Caster created lightning balls in both palms and tried to slam them at Kirei. Kirei easily dodged them by stepping back and counterattacked. Caster stretched the lightning balls like a membrane, transforming them into a defensive wall.

Even though she was weakened, she was still a Caster Servant. Her magical strength was incomparable to that of an average magician. The electromagnetic barrier she deployed, while seemingly fragile, should have considerable defensive power. However,

(No…!)

"Gulp...!?"

Kirei's left fist easily pierced that protective wall, which likely could even deflect rifle bullets.

Kirei swung his left arm, which was stuck in Caster's solar plexus, and threw him away.

At the same time, Kirei had thrown a sword without realizing it, and her left arm and leg were pinned to the wall of the church.

"G-Aaaaaaahhhhhh!?"

Kirei coldly looked down at Caster, who was screaming in agony, and muttered emotionlessly.

"You thought you couldn't be defeated by a human? You have no understanding of what an agent is."

Finally, I managed to get my unruly body to move and successfully pop the gem into my mouth.

He bites down the gem and converts the magical power stored within it into detoxifying power, which then permeates his body.

Regaining my freedom of movement, I immediately leapt at Kirei.

He leaps forward using the strength of his arms and unleashes an arrow-like kick.

Kirei blocked it with his elbow and brought it down on the empty torso.

I guarded against it, grabbed it, and using it as an axis, rotated my body in a back flip and delivered a knee to Kirei's head.

Kirei dodged by leaning his torso back, then swung his arm and threw me away.

I took a defensive stance in mid-air and landed safely, clicking my tongue at how easily my surprise attack had been warded off.

"Tsk!"

"You've really improved your skills, Rin. As your teacher, I'm very interested to see how far you can grow... hmm?"

Kirei looked to the side as if he was distracted by something in the middle of his sentence, and at the same time, I jumped.

"How can you afford to look away?!"

He leapt up higher than the tall Kirei's head and slammed his heels into the air, using the centrifugal force of his spin to strike. Kirei dodged it by simply shifting his body, and with the same momentum he brought both his arms down. This time Kirei dodged by lowering his whole body.

"HAAAAHHH!"

I lowered my hands, placed them on the floor, did a handstand and spun, swinging my legs around like capoeira.

Kirei fended off the storm of attacks with just one arm, without even turning his head to face us.

"Let me ask you the opposite: why did you think I would have no time for that?"

What's more, he asked this question with a look of genuine curiosity on his face while fending off the attack.

(This guy is definitely a monster…!)

The hopeless difference in skill between them made him take advantage of an opening that made him shudder, and his arm that was supporting his body was swept away. He somehow managed to block a kick aimed at his floating torso, but the force of the impact felt as if every bone in his body was torn to pieces, and he was sent flying all the way to the entrance door.

After rolling around several times, it finally came to a stop.

"...!"

I felt a chill in my throat.

Before I knew it, a knife was pressed against my neck from behind. I couldn't move.

The sword was a double-edged black dagger, just like the one that had been thrown at him the first time. It was held by a thin man clad in black clothing and wearing a skull mask.

"Asa, Shin...!"

He was Assassin, the one who should have been the first to drop out of the Holy Grail War, the one who should have been defeated by none other than his own Servant.

"What do you mean...?"

I spoke while breaking out into a cold sweat. I thought it might be dangerous, but I couldn't help but ask.

Fortunately, neither Kirei nor Assassin seemed to mind. It seemed like they were allowed to speak.

"As you can see, I am the Master Assassin."

"I'm sure I defeated Assassin! I'm asking why he's alive and well!"

"I wouldn't mind explaining it to you, but I'm sorry, but right now that takes priority."

Kirei answered, still facing in one direction. When I turned my attention in that direction, I heard a dragging sound... drag...

Looking up, Caster seemed to have freed himself from his crucified position, but was now dragging his still-moving left limb.

Panting and out of breath, I crawled forward to where I found Hikigaya-kun lying on the ground, not moving a muscle.

Kirei stared at Caster and made a small movement with his right hand. Three blades silently extended from between his clenched fingers.

It was the same sword that had pierced Caster earlier, a sword called the Black Key, favored by the church's combatants known as Agents.

Although it is a throwing weapon, it is as long as an ordinary long sword, but the blade is actually woven with magical power. Therefore, the main body is only a very small handle, making it extremely portable.

Kirei was probably planning to finish Caster off immediately if she showed any strange movements. Kirei continued to stare at Caster vigilantly.

Caster reached Hikigaya-kun and threw himself over his neck, biting into his neck.

That was all.

It seems like he's trying to protect her.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Suddenly, a loud laugh rang out. It was Kirei. Seeing the two of them, he twisted his body in laughter.

"What... what's wrong with you?"

He yells uncontrollably.

Her actions were based on a very noble desire to protect someone she loved. It was definitely not something that should be made fun of.

However, Kirei continued laughing as if even that was funny.

"Isn't that ridiculous? A Caster Servant, the pinnacle of magicians! And that traitorous witch at that! Says she has no choice but to put her own body on the line to protect her master! And does she really think she is protecting him!? Do you think that thin body will serve as some kind of shield!?"

Kirei laughed as he stomped towards the two of them and stomped on Caster with all his might. Caster groaned softly, but continued to cling to Hikigaya-kun.

"Stop it!"

"Don't get the wrong idea, Rin. I'm granting Caster's wish, you know? The wish to be of use to my master."

Kirei said as he kicked Caster repeatedly.

"This... thing...!"

Tears of frustration well up in my eyes. I want to shut him up, but I have no way to do it.

I've always hated this guy.

At first, I thought it was jealousy over me being Father's direct disciple.

However, by the time I entered junior high school, I realized that something was not right.

But then, whenever I thought about why that was the case, I couldn't find an answer, but now I finally understand it.

This man loves nothing more than trampling on people's feelings.

Kirei seemed satisfied after inflicting pain on Caster, and stopped his kicks. Meanwhile, Caster continued to protect Hikigaya-kun without even a shriek.

"Now then..."

Kirei held the black key in his right hand.

"Unfortunately, I'm quite busy. I think I'll call it a day here."

"You, stop being such a mess...!"

"Rin, this is mercy. With two people who love each other that much, it would be a kindness to at least send them to the same place. You should say your prayers for them. Oh, excuse me, I'm still a priest, am I? Hehehe... Hahahahaha!"

Kirei clutches his forehead and bursts out laughing again.

It was at that moment that the thought crossed my mind that I might as well just shove the jewel into its back, prepared to face suicide.

"If you're going to chant, then chant for yourself."

Karan

A soft sound rang out. It was the sound of Assassin dropping his dagger.

When he was freed and turned around, he saw Assassin disappear into light.

"It" pierced Assassin from behind along with the door, then retreated soundlessly through the hole. Immediately afterwards, a dry clang was heard, and the thick wooden door crumbled into pieces.

Dust rises up in clouds.

Appearing from the other side was a man with an aloof air about him.

His slender, yet not showing the slightest hint of fragility, body is clad in blue armour, and in his right hand he holds his symbol, a crimson magic spear.

"...Lancer."

"A hero has arrived. Hey, girl. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"You... why..."

He muttered in shock at Lancer's sudden appearance.

"What? It's just for personal use."

Lancer replied with the same devilish smile he'd shown before.

Kirei's expression suddenly changes from what it was before and disappears.

"Lancer? I thought he'd died in the Einzbern Forest."

"Unfortunately, being dirty is my only redeeming feature. I'm not going to die that easily."

"So then? What business do you have with Koopa now? If you want some assassin's blessing as your magic is running low, I want you to work for me in place of the assassins you killed."

"Ha! Now it's my turn to say this. You really think I'm going to listen to what you have to say now?"

"W-wait a second! That's...!"

I couldn't help but blurt out what he had to say. Lancer nodded with a bitter look on his face.

"...Yeah. How disgusting, this bastard is my Master."

"But that's a double contract...?!"

"Not just that. That golden Archer is also his Servant."

"What…?!"

A triple contract...! Is that even possible?!

Kirei was heard clicking his tongue, perhaps displeased at having his secret revealed. Then he returned to his usual brazen self and addressed Lancer.

"Don't talk nonsense. Lancer, kill Rin. Then I'll welcome you back as my Servant."

"I know you don't want to. If you really want me to kill you, then use the Command Spell on your left hand."

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

I stiffened when I saw Kirei lift his left hand.

No matter what Lancer wanted, he couldn't resist the compulsion of the Command Spell. At this distance, there was no way he could escape.

"I command you with the Command Spell."

Kirei chants.

Lancer crossed his arms and looked at it coldly.

"Kill yourself, Lancer."

crack* The sound of the Command Spell shattering rang out.

"……in?"

Lancer smiled calmly, his posture unchanged from before.

"...I thought so."

Kirei muttered in disgust.

"Answer me Lancer. Why is it that the Command Spells do not have any control over you?"

Lancer shrugged his shoulders and answered playfully.

"The Caster over there had an interesting Noble Phantasm, so I borrowed it for a bit."

"...A rule breaker, huh? I see."

…I see. So that's what he was talking about when he said thank you in the Einzbern Forest.

"And that is why Command Spells no longer work on me. I will beat you to a pulp without any reservations."

"...I can't bear to be killed. Well then, let me do this."

At the same time Kirei muttered, Lancer raised his spear.

A heavy sound.

When he looked, he saw that the tip of the spear was piercing the assassin he had killed earlier.

"What..."

This is the third time. Do Assassins have the same abilities as Berserkers?

Lancer tells Assassin without the slightest bit of hesitation, as if he knows the true nature of his abilities.

"You think a mere assassin can stand against a knight? I've hunted down all the other assassins. The ones remaining here are the last of your remaining pawns."

"...I see. Then there's no point in hiding it anymore."

With those words from Kirei as a turning point,

From behind the bench

From behind the statue

From the top of the pillar

Skull masks appear all over the church.

The number was easily more than twenty.

It's not that Assassins had the ability to resurrect, but rather that there were multiple Assassins from the beginning.

There is power in numbers.

Having more is an absolute advantage.

But Lancer was not the least bit intimidated and raised his spear.

"Lancer, I will give you one more chance. Kill Rin, and I will make you my Servant again."

「You can talk in your sleep after you've fallen asleep. I'm not going to let go of the opportunity to kill you after all.」

"What an incredible thing, chivalry. Even if it was only a temporary contract, how could one be so quick to betray one's former master?"

"Let me out! You were just forcing me to obey you with the Command Spell you stole from Master!"

In response to Kirei's provocation, Lancer lifted Namashiri up and roared in anger.

"Without the Command Spells, who would obey you...! YoufirstHanaThat's why he's my sworn enemy. Don't underestimate the loyalty of a knight!"