The Other Lu Bu's Identity Is...

Very well, Master, this is as far as I go.

Your direction during the combat simulation was excellent. Even Llamrei thinks so.

(Snort)

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Good day.

I was told there's a library here somewhere? I couldn't care less, but Pollux is a different story.

Libraries house the collective wisdom of the entire human race, Brother. I'm sure you'd like them too if you just gave them a chance.

So on that note, Master, could we take a peek at the underground library, please?

Thank you, Master.

Hmph. Why bother thanking a human?

Of course we do, Master! We're your Servants, after all.

Isn't that right, Brother?

While I do agree it's essential to preserve the chain of command...

...that doesn't mean you should be kowtowing to a human, Pollux!

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(Sigh) Oh, Brother.

Hello, Senpai. Great work in the combat simulator today.

You just finished training a little while ago, right? Is there an errand you need to run in the Command Room?

(Glance)

I-I see.

(Glance)

!

(Then you did notice, Senpai.)

(The Heroic Spirit who's been staring at you this whole time from across the room is...)

(...Red Hare!)

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Did somebody say "carrot"!?

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Well now, that's embarrassing. I can't believe I fell for such a cunning ploy.

That was downright devious. So cold were your calculations that even Lord Chen Gong would be quaking in his boots.

Well done, Master. I'm impressed you noticed my intense, but stealthy observation.

I was doing my best to avoid being seen while I waited for the right time to talk to you...

But now that the horse is out of the stable, I may as well tell you everything.

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I think you mean "Lu Bu."

Anyway, this is something of a sensitive matter, so I'd prefer to keep it just between us.

...Thank you, Master. You didn't have to activate the simulator just for me, though I do appreciate it.

You and Lady Mash are both wonderful people. I knew I made the right choice in serving you.

Now then.

Hmm, where to begin... Got it.

Master, do you remember what I once told you?

That's right!

I said "I guess either way is fine."

Am I truly Lu Bu? Or am I actually an imposter? The truth is, it doesn't make much difference either way.

I'm Lu Bu, Lu Bu is me, and right now, the rider and his horse are one.

That's what I thought at the time, and in practice, there really isn't much difference.

But...

Be that as it may... Master!

It's possible that maybe, just maybe...

...I might not actually be Lu Bu...

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Oho!

I'm so glad you understand, Master! I know it sounds silly, but hear me out!

For example!

There's the fact that I love carrots.

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And while there's no question that I'm a die-hard carrot fan...

Was that the case for Lu Bu too? Maybe he didn't actually like carrots that much.

Though I do feel like there might have been a legend about his fondness for them...

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Good point!

So then, that would mean...

Maybe...I'm actually...

... ...

...a centaur?

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Like what?

Anyway, there you have it. I want to know who I truly am.

And I would like you to join me on this journey of self-discovery!

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About what?

Come then, let's be on our way. As a matter of fact, I already have a promising lead.

I see. So that's why you've come to speak with me.

Allow me to get straight to the point, Lord Chiron. Many people have said I run as swiftly as a centaur...

So does that mean you and I are actually the same species?

Am I also a centaur, like you?

No, you're not.

I see. You certainly come right to the point.

Indeed.

So I'm not a centaur then. I see.

Very well then, O wise and noble sage, let me ask you one more thing: What AM I then?

Good question. Hmm...

Lord Red Hare.

I believe you mean "Lu Bu," but yes?

Many people have asked themselves that same question: Who am I, truly?

At times, we may even spend our entire lives in pursuit of an answer.

Okay then...

...I just asked myself now. Like, right now. Who am I, truly?

That's a very human question, which means I'm human, which means I'm Lu Bu.

Now I get it!

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That depends entirely on Lord Red Hare.

This is something he needs to determine for himself, after all. I can't just hand him the answer.

That being said, Lord Red Hare...

There may be knowledge out there that can help lead you to the answer.

Knowledge, you say? Hmm...

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Understood. I knew I was right to come to you, Sage Chiron. Now I know I need to rely on the wisdom of all humanity to guide me in my search.

Come on then, Master! There's no time to waste!

Where are we going, you say? To the library, of course!

Excuse me, ma'am.

Oh, if it isn't Lord Red Hare. Welcome to the library.

It's Lu Bu. Oh, wait. That's not right.

I'm here to avail myself of the collective wisdom of humanity so that I may finally know once and for all whether I'm Lu Bu or Red Hare.

Please, don't try to stop me. Neigh.

You mean, you're looking for books about yourself?

Well, that's perfect! As luck would have it, I just added a new section for books about all of Chaldea's Heroic Spirits.

In fact, Lord Chen Gong himself is assisting me with putting it together.

Oho! Lord Chen Gong, huh!

That's right. He's actually back there right now.

I'm sure he would show you the way to the new section if you ask him.

What a lucky turn of events. Come on then, Master. I'll take you on my back.

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Y-yes, that's right. It would be one thing if there were an emergency that demanded urgency...

But otherwise, it would be greatly appreciated if you could refrain from galloping about the library...

Forgive me, beautiful librarian, but this matter is indeed of the greatest urgency to me.

Let's go, Master!

Neiiighhh!

Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh...

Good day, ma'am!

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(Snort)

All right, Lord Chen Gong should be somewhere around here...

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I still don't know what you're talking about. Anyway, take a look at that, Master.

Those books. They're...

Dancing!

What witchcraft is this!? Those books are flapping around like a flock of birds.

I guess these must be the Demonic Books I've heard about here and there? The kind that appear before a battle?

I believe you mean "Lu Bu," but very well.

Good point.

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All right, Master, let's put these books back where they belong! Neiiigh haaa!

That takes care of that.

They were formidable foes, though still no match for us. Rarely have I felt that rider and horse were so united in both mind and body.

Now then, where could Lord Chen Gong be...?

I'm right here, Red Hare.

Lady Murasaki contacted me to let me know you were on your way.

Ah, your tactical genius is unparalleled, Lord Chen Gong! Thank you for wasting even less time than usual!

If you already know why we're here, then please, tell me where I can find a book about me!

It is time I learned who I truly am, once and for all!

...Hmm.

I must say, Master, it's very kind of you to play along with Red Hare's...quest for identity, shall we say.

Unfortunately, with a quest like this, you could run around until you collapse and still not get anywhere.

Indeed, one would truly have to be as strong as the real Lord Lu Bu to keep up.

Not to mention that the quickest path to success would be to verify the True Name of Red Hare's Spirit Origin as registered in Chaldea.

So I can see the sense in making your way here.

However, while this section of the library does indeed contain myths, legends, stories, records, and more about many of the Heroic Spirits whose Spirit Origins are registered in Chaldea...

...it does not necessarily follow that those sources will shed light on a given Heroic Spirit's identity. I trust you see where I'm going with this?

While some Heroic Spirits did accomplish great things in the past, some are closer to the embodiment of Mystics spoken about to this day...

For others still, even the records we have may not be altogether reliable.

Of course, as most Noble Phantasms are famous Mystics known to just about everyone, the knowledge contained in this section should still prove useful in many situations...

...but again, we have no way to be certain that knowledge is reliable.

Hello, Command Room? Do you read me?

Loud and clear, Chen Gong. This is Mash Kyrielight in the Command Room.

I see Senpai is there with you, too. Um... May I ask what this is about?

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Red Hare's, specifically.

So you'd like me to pull up the records for Red Hare's Spirit Origin? Of course.

There we go. His class is Rider, and his True Name is "Red Hare."

Thank you, Lady Mash.

Well, Red Hare, it would seem your True Name leaves little room for doubt as to who you truly are.

!!!

So I'm...Red Hare...?

... ...

Master. I'm sorry... I'm sorry. I... I...!

All this time, I thought I was Lu Bu...

I thought I only looked like this because tales of his bravery on horseback are so well known...

Does this mean I'm actually not?

Or that I'm not even an Innocent Monster?

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Red Hare!

Ahhh...! I...I can't believe it!

Then...I'm just a horse?

A horse who's been claiming to be Lu Bu this whole time!?

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Master...

... ...

...

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... ...

...Well.

In the end, I guess it doesn't really matter either way. Neigh-heigh!

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(Snort)

Hehe.

It seems Red Hare's been giving you quite the runaround, Master, in more ways than one.

Still, I can understand his confusion.

There is a reason he cannot quite grasp whether he's a horse or something else.

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Think about it. Recall what General Lu Bu looks like.

Whenever he rode into battle, Lu Bu Fengxian's grand figure seemed more akin to a steel god than a human.

As such, it would be no surprise if his steed, Red Hare, were also no ordinary horse.

Perhaps he too was a horse of steel, the better to serve as the steel god's mount.

Or perhaps he began his life as an ordinary horse before being turned into one of steel.

Tell me, have you ever heard how Red Hare occasionally expresses a desire for the power of flight?

Please, Lord Chen Gong! At least grant me the power of flight!

Or those times he's wished to become both human and steed, in the literal sense of the words?

Now is the time for me to become the ultimate human-horse hybrid, and unleash my Exared Form!

I certainly can't imagine any ordinary horse wishing for such things. Can you?

...!

Lord Chen Gong! Does that mean I

...Wait. What DOES that mean?

How should I know?

But what I do know is this: you are Red Hare! And you are most assuredly worthy of being General Lu Bu's steed.

What more need be said?

Lord Super Chen Gong...

Hahaha, you forgot the "tactician" part, you stupid horse.

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I'm not exactly sure why, but I can at least kind of tell that Lord Chen Gong was praising me.

Hehe, it's a little embarrassing.

Still, while I'd like to ask more questions, Lord Chen Gong and Master...

...I'm afraid I must be going now, or I'm going to be late. Farewell!

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Oh, I might have an idea where he went.

The children just set the simulator to a grassy plain a little while ago, so he may have made plans with them.

I'll have to ask them about it later.

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So it would seem. It's understandable. Horses have been beloved all throughout the world since ancient times.

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How about you, Senpai? Did you like horses when you were little, too?

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