Kill Me If You Can

...Now then. Are you ready, Cú Chulainn?

Ready or not. You haven't told me why I was summoned, but... Well, I have some idea.

Hmm, being summoned like this must be fate. First off, I'd like you to try and finish me.

Uh, right. I just need to pierce through your heart or head with impeccable technique and coordination, right?

No! Wouldn't that just kill her? Um, we'd like you to not try and kill each other!

That's impossible, little girl. At this point, nothing's going to stop her.

S-Senpai, what should we do...

No, please don't stop me, Master. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Well, that's because living makes me long for death... A satisfactory death from the ultimate thrust.

I know it's too much too ask for and an annoyance. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

？！

I have a body which seeks but is denied death, a mere ghost who's burned onto the world.

However, with this world incinerated, the Land of Shadows is no more. That's why I can be summoned as a Heroic Spirit.

To fight as a warrior, to lose my life if defeated A chance to live like a proper person.

Then it's only natural wanting to try it, no? Assuming there's a warrior greater than me.

Well, Cú Chulainn? Have you improved a bit since that time?

Since I couldn't leave the Land of Shadows, my only way to make sure was through my messengers.

Yes, a bit. Stand back, Fujimaru. A spear tip is more suitable for her than words.

...Dammit. Sending clueless kids as messengers. What kind of bad joke is that?

You are immortal physically, but your soul is dead. You're wise, but what you are is no different than a hellish fiend.

Now that very soul has materialized in this world, then I guess it's the pupil's job to finish his mentor off.

Yes. Now then, Child of Light. Try to kill me for good this time.

Leave it to me. My spear can reverse causality, and it never misses its prey.

Here we go, Scáthach. That heart will be mine!

Well said! My pupil, the moment that red spear pierces my chest

Oh, I have longed for such a moment... as I was frozen in the depths of eternity!

Sorry. I messed up.

Foolish pupil! Why did your spear have to miss, now of all times!

Amazing... Gáe Bolg's tip flew way off into the horizon...

Yes, it even seems to have left a contrail. It must have hit Mach speed.

I see. Because it couldn't see Scáthach being dead in her fate, so it turned into a wild throw like that.

...Ah. Is that what it is? So my foolish pupil did not go easy on me then.

Still! Come on, Sétanta! What's with you!?

You've gotten worse since your time in the Land of Shadows! You're like a squirrel! Been slacking off on your training?

Yeah yeah, I know, I know... I am weaker than before.

I mean, half of my strength is missing. I don't really know why, but I am just not in my prime.

What did you say?

Oh! Maybe... So when Cú Chulainn appeared as a Caster to help us that one time...

His powers got distributed to every Cú Chulainn that existed in each Servant class.

Ew. I was a Caster somewhere?

I see. Come to think of it, despite being a natural warrior, his skill with runes was needlessly high...

Still, you told me something useful, Mash. There's still a chance.

Cú Chulainn. You will start your training over in that body. Train with a clear mind and you'll regain what you've lost.

A clear mind... So basically not to think about anything?

...Wait, start over my training?

Did you hear it any other way, fool? You have the basics. Now you just need combat experience.

Right, it's decided. Now then, let's start our journey of training.

Huh, like right now? Ow! Don't pull the hair on the back of my head! Hey, Pink Hair! Quit laughing and do something!

...Th-There they go. What do we do, Master?

？！

You're right. It's our only option. Let's go!

Okay, we'll start by killing a chimera. Work hard.

All right, I get it! Quit pulling my hair! ...Dammit. What a pain... But I guess I have to go along with it.

Wait, please!

Oh, you've decided to join our training?

？！

...I see. You're right, we are Servants.

They say a Servant's power increases more with backup from a Master.

All right, I'll allow you to participate. Try to kill the chimera along with Cú Chulainn.

Understood! Let's do our best, Cú Chulainn!

You sure love to stick your nose into other people's problems, but thanks. I can't shame myself in front of my mentor a second time.

Let's go, Master!

A life-or-death situation suits you, Cú Chulainn. Both your eyes are burning brightly, aren't they?

That battle was intense, how can I not get excited? My love for a good fight has always been a bad habit of mine since childhood.

Yes. However, your spear lacks precision. Did you hold back and rely on strength alone because the enemy was weak?

Didn't I teach you not to swing your spear with strength alone? Your habit of skipping out on lessons was one thing I couldn't fix...

All right then, we're facing dragons next. Let's go earn you the title of Dragon Slayer... By killing a hundred of them.

She's as unreasonable as he is!

Cú Chulainn, are you alive? ...Which is to say, should we continue?

Of course we continue. My shoulder is all nice and warmed up. All right, bring on the dragon or whatever you've got!

Very well. Let us have at it, my prize pupil!

Last one. Here we go Gáe Bolg!

Got 'em! Well? Can't complain about that!

... ...

Hello? Scáthach?

...No, sorry. I was remembering you from the past.

Stop right there before you embarrass me. So, what do you think?

Hm... I don't know if it's perfect, but it's close. At the very least, not that much different when you were alive.

Good, now we're talking. Well, shall we do this?

...

...Yeah, you're right. To think that kid would be standing before me like this.

Human life is nothing but wonders. Rather than becoming a god, I would have preferred to associate with you as a human

Heh, heh, that too is merely a luxury.

Something like "He who hunts two hares loses both."

Exactly. Are you ready, Cú Chulainn?

Yeah.

Mash, you two should join, too. Then we'll be even.

Master?

？！

Understood. ...Here we go, Scáthach!

Come at me!

Ugh!

Gotcha!

Take this as my parting gift! Gáe Bolg!

Ugh!

That was your last strike, huh? Then here goes... Gáe Bolg Alternative!

Wha...

Huh?

...Say, Scáthach. Looks like you, too...

Y-Yeah. Looks like...I also have gotten stronger than before.

...Well, I had a hunch, but it was so fun... At times, killing dragons and giants and monsters...

Are you even more reckless than me!? Don't you want to die!?

I-I can't help it! The stronger an enemy, the more I want to see the essence of its strength.

The stronger they are, the more I respect them, the more I want to cross swords with them!

It's only natural that I'd end up getting stronger! It's not my fault!

...SIGH. Exactly how much does the Queen of the Land of Shadows love to fight?

I-I can't keep up with this inflation. She could at least slow the pace a little...

It's not something that you can do in a short time.

You're right. ...No need to rush, is there?

Cú Chulainn and you, Fujimaru. The day will surely come when you can kill me.

Before you save the world, kill me, if only once.

That is my wish. To that abysmal probability, I devote this body.

Yeah, yeah, I got it. We're stuck together 'till we both die... No, 'till we both kill each other.

There's still a long way to go. Going along with a woman's selfishness is also a requirement to be a top-tier Master, Fujimaru.