The Evening Bell of Death (2/2)

Oh. There it is, Master Fujimaru.

That temple you see is the Shrine of Azrael. But...

Hmm, as to be expected, the great founder is angry. He placed guards at the gate.

I'm picking up multiple magical energy responses! Those are ghosts... and one of them's huge!

We cannot enter the shrine unless we defeat them. Let's go, Fujimaru!

So this is the Shrine of Azrael... I'm not picking up anything out of the ordinary...

No, Doctor... You have to be here to feel this pressure...

There are no traces of magical energy or Servant activity, no signs of life...

But my whole body is trembling, and I can't stop it.

Everything down to the pit of my stomach is screaming to get out of here!

...We must move forward, Fujimaru. What lies ahead is the realm of the great founder.

There's no telling what could happen. Please be cautious

Master!

Ugh... I can't find the enemy!

Doctor, any Servant response?

None! I'm not detecting anything aside from you guys!

Actually, for an instant just now, Fujimaru's response disappeared on my end!

But if there was an attack, Mash would've blocked it... What's going on!?

Based on the observation data, Fujimaru is already dead!

？！

Apprentice of Magecraft.

Sir!

...!

Wh-What's going on!? You're both suddenly down on your knees!

Nothing has come out yet!

...No, keep it down, Lady Sanzang. It seems someone is already standing in front of us.

...Mm. Stay quiet, Sanzang. And try not to breathe. If you're caught by this one, you won't stand a chance.

This guy is... the kind that would take me 30, 40 years to even come close to reaching.

Apprentice of Magecraft and ye inhumans.

Thy voices have been heard. My blade shall accept thy will, the will of saving this era.

However... death awaiteth all those who set foot into my shrine.

Fight, ye dead, and seize life. With that rite, thou shalt be forgiven for unveiling me.

Serenity, thou shalt oversee the ritual. Show me thy conviction.

Arrrrgggghhh, arrrggh! Gah, arrrgghh!?

Lady Serenity! This aura... Her mind is being taken over?

O great founder! Please allow me to be the one to serve you! This burden is too heavy for Serenity!

Fool. Thine head shall be taken by my sword. It is not worthy for the ritual.

The head of Serenity shall be offered as a tribute by those entering here. The scales accept but one head.

？！

Choose thine own path. I judge only the outcome. Now, start thy dance of death, Serenity.

Whose head shall be chosen by the Evening Bell... That will be determined by thine hands.

Choose thine own path. I judge only the outcome. Now, start thy dance of death, Serenity.

Whose head shall be chosen by the Evening Bell... That will be determined by thine hands.

Here she comes! Hassan of Serenity's Spirit Origin values are increasing drastically!

Don't think of her as the same person! Fight her with everything you've got!

But to take down Serenity... Senpai...

？！

Yes! I, Mash Kyrielight, will fight with all my strength as your Servant!

We've successfully neutralized the enemy Servant, and somehow avoided destroying her Spirit Origin!

Ah, everyone... I am so...sorry...

...I asked of thee to seize life, and yet thou would seize everything.

However, I said also that I judge only the outcome. I judge not the goodness or evil of thy path. ...Very well.

Thou art welcome to my shrine. I am Old Man of the Mountain, Hassan-i Sabbah.

A swordsman? The first Old Man of the Mountain was a swordsman?

No, that's not what should surprise you, Mash. That Assassin over there... Could he be Gra

Hold thy tongue, mage. Unnecessary words diminish the worth of the courage thy summoner hath displayed.

Oh, I-I'm sorryyy! H-Huh? What's going on? The feed is cutting out!?

...O great founder, I am aware of the shame we have brought upon ourselves in visiting this shrine. Forgive us.

These people have risen up against the Lion King... but he is still just out of reach. We are one fang short.

Please, grant us the privilege of borrowing your strength. All of this is for the future of our people.

...Cursed Arm, thou art mistaken on two counts. I see thou art shallow as ever.

...What do you mean, great founder?

Apprentice of magecraft, I ask of thee. Thou wouldst rise against the Lion King... Is that true?

Thou wishest for the head of the Lion King, who hath fallen to a mere deity. Is that statement accurate?

？！

Fujimaru!?

Mm-hmm. There's no point in lying.

You can't kill someone you've never even met. All you can do is complain, right?

...Thou needst one more fang, sayeth Cursed Arm. I wonder, is one enough?

？！

Fujimaru!?

...Apprentice of magecraft. Thou must know...

The truth of the Lion King. The foolish words of the Sun King. The rending of humanity. And the start of everything.

When thou hast accomplished it, my blade shall lead the charge for thee. Thou spokest of the Knight of the Sun, Gawain?

My blade will be the raptor that pecketh out his eyes. My black shroud will be the night that swalloweth the light of the Holy City.

I'm sorry, mighty skeleton man! I don't understand a word you're saying!

Can you use easier, simpler words?

？！

M-Master, I don't know about "King Hassan" either...

He'll get mad if we keep being rude to him!

Fou, foooou!

...No matter.

Huh?

No mind. Call me as thou wilt. I am nameless from the beginning. Therefore, I have no preference.

Right... Thank you for your kind words. It does put us at ease, too...

Well, that sure makes it easier for us to talk to you!

So, uh... you're saying you can help us only if we search for something, right?

What should we look up? You're going to tell us where to begin, right?

...There is a mystical realm within the desert. Therein thou wilt find what thou seekest.

A realm even the Sun King of the desert cannot reach. A vault of knowledge buried within the sands.

Its name is the Atlas Institute.

What!?

Apprentice of magecraft, it has come time for thee to know what caused the Incineration of Humanity.

When that has come to pass, I shall appear on the battlefield. ...As the sword of divine will.

Now, Cursed Arm. Offer thine head.

...As you wish. I, Hassan of the Cursed Arm, accept my punishment.

Wait! Hold on a second! Why must you cut off Lord Hassan's head?

My mask symbolizeth an Old Man's death. My blade symbolizeth an Old Man's punishment.

Knight of a foreign land, traveler with a silver arm. I am an Old Man of the Mountain for all others.

...In other words, a Hassan who killeth Hassans.

...! In that case, you are

When an Old Man is corrupted and hath taken a wrong turn, I shall stand before him.

Dost thou understand? All Old Men of the Mountain throughout the course of history have seen my mask at the end of their lives.

Not one hath escaped my blade. Thus, those who have seen my mask are the true Old Men.

Should that era's Hassan come to ask for my assistance... He will have declared, "I am not worthy to be an Old Man of the Mountain."

...Therefore, he shall be stripped of his mask.

Lord Hassan... You guided us here despite knowing all of that!?

？！

...

Cursed Arm. Although they were thy fellows for but a short time, thou hast not revealed thy fate?

It seems thou hast not changed at all. Also, thou givest up too soon.

...Rise, Cursed Arm. Thou hast already brought enough shame upon thyself. No more.

Carry out thy responsibility with these men. When that is fulfilled, I will grant thee thy death.

...I am grateful for your words. As an Old Man of the Mountain, I will fulfill my responsibility.

Make haste to the Atlas Institute. There is little time left.

Ere the lance of the Lion King returneth to its true form, restore the Holy Land... And return the holy artifact.

...