The Flames of Hatred, Forever in My Heart

...Lamenting Exterior!

Rrraaahhh!!!

Hrah!

My, my. What a turn.

Too bad. I gather you hoped to take each of us out separately...

...but even without my Master, I still have the magical energy of my host body to draw upon.

What's more, I actually prefer fighting alone to fighting in a group.

(Jeanne Alter's keeping an eye on Master, so I have only one job.)

(Stall this man. Kill him if I get the chance.)

(I'd like to chip away at anything that might pose a threat to Master, after all.)

(Right now, he's...)

...Now I see. So that's why you wanted to separate us.

How devious to go after Master now, when he's more likely to charge in, heedless of the danger.

Now that our forces are divided, you can keep me occupied while you focus your attacks on the others.

An effective tactic, but

You're right. That is our plan.

But unfortunately, Mr. Salieri...

...it's you we're after.

What!?

Ahh, my queen!

Now then, shall we begin music class? We have to make sure Amadeus hears your screams clearly.

Right, Mr. Salieri?

What are...you...?

Think.

Remember what the wildfire that created you tasted like...

You're not Mr. Salieri. You're a vengeance seeker!

You're an Innocent Monsteran abomination made up of the Man in Grey and the fragments of Mr. Salieri's soul after the masses poured their anger upon him!

Your soul is fire, bent on incinerating everything in vengeance for all you lost!

Now come on, Mr. Salieri! Help me test something!

Let's see if we can make a pitch-black flower of vengeance bloom in Fujimaru's soul together!

Ah...! Ah... A-aah... Aaah!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

(Are you awake?)

(Sorry to jump in with the telepathy out of nowhere. And, sorry for taking so long.)

？！

(I see.)

(So listen. I haven't been able to get in touch with Mr. SalI mean, Salieri, at all.)

(It's been over an hour. I'm starting to worry about the guy.)

(Can you reach out to him telepathically? Find out where he is, if he's okay, that sort of thing?)

？！

？！

(Co...)

(Come...to...)

(Come...to...the...)

(...park...)

(Come to...the park...)

？！

(Park?)

(Uh, let me think... Yeah, there's a park about a five-minute walk away from you.)

(Let's meet there.)

(Tell your aunt you need some fresh air or something. I'll have Kagekiyo guard you.)

？！

？！

I will.

Go. I'll keep the woman safe.

There you are.

？！

You said the park, right? Fine, I'll go with you.

... ...

...Hmm.

？！

I thought it best to ask, just in case. This possession business is still strange to me.

As I am now, my Spirit Origin seems to be both myself and Yoshitsune.

Can you not tell?

...Hmm. So that is how you see it.

？！

I am not quite the same here as at Chaldea. I think it is because of this vessel.

It is not like the times when either Kagekiyo or Yoshitsune is occupying most of my mind.

To clarify...

...I feel as though I have Kagekiyo's personality but Yoshitsune's mind.

And so, it feels like this:

No matter what I am doing...

...I always wish to start by cutting off heads.

？！

Right?

Which is why I thought I should ask.

I admit, I have no reason to think this, but if we do see Salieri at the park...

...depending on the situation, I may attack swiftly to claim his head. Is that all right?

？！

Hmm. I see.

...Well, I will keep that in mind. Come, let us go.

So Alter is not here yet. Hmm.

I do not see Salieri, either...

Master. Stay close to me, just in case.

？！

You think I am being overly cautious?

I am not. Not by any measure.

Look around.

This place is entirely deserted. There are no nearby houses, either.

You may think so much open space makes this a poor place for an ambush.

The problem is, it also makes it impossible to hide you. That...is bad.

As a Servant, my Master is both my greatest form of support and my greatest weakness.

I therefore cannot let down my guard for even a second.

You're right, Kagekiyo.

!

？！

There you are, Master.

I must say...

...just this one time, I wish you weren't so trusting.

But I am glad you brought Kagekiyo along. Well done there.

Hm?

It almost sounds like...ahh. I see.

You have been turned into one of the enemies whose appearance is not announced by a trumpet, correct?

...I have.

...!

Tch!

Stay back, or I will cut off your legs myself!

Don't talk to him!

？！

He is an untrumpeted enemy now! Remember what happened with that false Boudica! I do not know if he will go back to the way he was like she did...

...but he is our enemy now!

...

...I am fire. ...I am darkness.

Quiet. Quiet. ...Now, let us play your requiem.

RR... RRRAAAhhh...!

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Antonio Salieri! The Man in Grey!

I had heard you were a great musician, but...

Hahahahahaha! You are doing remarkably well, keeping up with a proper warrior like myself.

Very, very good! Now then!

I shall kill you!

RRRAAAHHH!

Hrn!

... ...

H-hey! Are you truly running away!?

Hmph... Disappointing.

Well, I can at least be relieved you are alive, Master. Are you hurt at all?

Of course I was. Would you rather I had held back?

You are free to think of Servants as your friends if you wish, but not when they are no longer under your control.

That is especially true for him. He is an Extra class. He is an Avenger.

The fires of vengeance will never stop until they have incinerated everything.

Even people the Avenger may be fond of. That is just what we are.

Hmm. I see.

？！

Hm.

A moment. I'm receiving a message from Alter.

Hmm. Hmmm.

？！

I do. I was told that every student in this time has one.

So I thought I should as well. Fortunately, this vessel already had one.

Hm.

Oh, I see. You do not have one. Well, different strokes, as they say.

(...Can you hear me?)

(Sorry to keep springing telepathy on you. Kagekiyo just texted me about what happened.)

(I was way too late again...)

(Got away, right? Kagekiyo just texted me everything that happened.)

(Also...I'm sorry I was late.)

？！

Hm? Ah, I see. You are talking with Alter.

(Forget meeting up at the park. I'm gonna go look for Salieri.)

(You go back home and get some sleep.)

(And if you can't sleep, just get as much as rest as you can. That's your priority right now. Got it?)

(I'll have Kagekiyo stand guard outside your house. Hassan will continue to protect you inside.)

？！

(Not happening.)

(I hate it, but our party isn't built for searches or investigations. We're all about firepower.)

(So now that Salieri's gone nuts and started coming after you...)

(...he's bound to try again.)

(And that means our best way to find him is to wait for him to come looking for you. That's when we can ambush him.)

？！

(As long as you understand, that's all that matters.)

(So let's meet up in the morning, share what we know, and figure out our next move.)

(Anyway, uh...)

(Good night. ...And seriously, get some sleep.)

Are you done? Then I will take you home.

I am sure Alter already impressed this on you, but please make sure you get some rest.

You are our leader; we cannot have you collapsing. Rest is critical to do your job well.

Morning. Sorry to bother you so early.

...Hold up. What happened to you!?

Look at those bags under your eyes!

You didn't get much sleep, did you? It's so bad, I almost thought you were wearing Kabuki makeup or something.

Let me see. Hmm. He seems to be telling the truth, Alter.

Yeah, I get that. I was just using it as an example.

And don't you start calling me just "Alter," either. Salieri doing that's already more than enough.

Hm.

Really? Does that mean you truly are wearing Kabuki makeup?

Of course he isn't. I was just kidding.

Hmm.

...And lighten up. You're making it feel like I said something weird.

How so?

...Ugh, never mind. Just forget it. Freakin' airheads...

？！

Anyway, my point is, get as much rest as you can, when you can.

Though I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that.

Good.

...Okay, down to business. I guess this is gonna be more of a report than a talk.

I spent all night looking for Salieri and didn't see so much as a sign of him. But, just a few moments ago, I found him.

I'm not much of a detective. Actually, I just got lucky and happened to see him on my way here.

You know where that bastard is right now? At freaking school.

？！

Yeah. School.

Good morning, Mr. Salieri.

Morning. Early practice today?

Oh, yes. The tennis club has an exhibition match coming up soon, so we're having lots of early practices.

I see. Well, stay safe, and keep up the hard work.

Yes, sir.

The hell? He's just acting like a normal teacher again?

Hmph, how dull. His magical energy is nothing like it was last night.

In fact, he lacks a Servant aura entirely. He may as well be an ordinary human now.

So then, he's keeping his Servant Spirit Origin under wraps right now, just like us...

...and sticking to his human vessel's routine.

？！

I don't think so.

Based on our experience, some of our vessels' feelings and memories might get mixed in with ours...

...but we're always the ones driving, so to speak.

Take me, for example. I might look like Oruta right now, but we're not the same person, are we?

I do not know what the original Oruta was like.

Well, Master does.

(Clearly could not care less)

You brought this up, and now you can't even be bothered to care? How 'bout I burn your ass, you

？！

Good point. It's not like we can attack him right now...

...and we still don't know exactly what's going on with him.

It'd be a real pain if we accidentally made him go apeshit with all these people around.

So yeah. Let's just keep an eye on him for now and try to avoid direct contact.

Shame Hassan isn't here. Him being able to stay in spirit form would make that real easy.

？！

Yeah, I know. Hmm. I guess we could take turns switching off every hour

No need. It is not as though I will be attending classes, anyway. I will handle this.

I will stay out of sight and keep an eye on him throughout the day.

Well damn, aren't you the little delinquent?

You are in no position to lecture me. Besides, Yoshitsune's personality is driving me at the moment.

So I will do what I like, when I like. ...Heh.

Okay. I've been checking in on him during breaks between classes.

I know the Heroic Spirit in him's all messed up now, but as a teacher, he seems like the normal Mr. Salieri.

He's just acting like the same earnest music teacher he was before.

I'd never believe he tried to kill you last night if I didn't already know better.

What do you think, Kagekiyo?

... ...

...Hmm. For my part, I have seen no signs of bloodlust.

How dull. How am I supposed to read the pattern of his blade if he forever keeps it sheathed?

What the hell were you expecting to happen...?

Ah well, whatever. As long as he's keeping quiet, that's good news for us.

How about we wait until school gets out, then try some direct contact?

By which I mean we knock some sense into him.

I know it's not exactly the same situation, but it worked with Ms. Fuka so it's at least worth a shot.

Not you, too...

But, I guess you're right. That's pretty much all we can do right now.

I know it's not exactly the same situation, but it worked with Boudica so it's at least worth a shot.

By which I mean, we knock some sense into him.

？！

... ...

...Uhh...

That girl is in the way.

Wha

Why're you getting so pissed off all of a sudden? Cut that shit out.

I don't remember you being that kind of Avenger.

If anything, that kinda bloodlust is more Ushiwakamaru's thing.

You have a keen eye, Alter.

My current mindset is much more like Yoshitsune, perhaps thanks to the vessel I am inhabiting.

Wh-why didn't you say so sooner!?

I already told Master.

O-oh. I see. That's...surprisingly earnest of you.

But anyway, you still can't just go around getting violent with anyone you don't like. Himeko and Ricardo in particular are Master's friends.

Hmm. Right.

Do you actually get that? Because I'm not sure you do.

Ah, whatever. I guess it's fine as long as you don't act on it.

Hm?

Oh, right. It's lunchtime. Sorry to keep Fujimaru for so long. You can have him back now.

Aah! I-I-I-I...!

I-I, no, I'm sorry for interrupting your talk. We didn't have lunch plans anyway, so...

I mean, okay, but we eat lunch together most days without, you know, having to make plans.

So I think we can just have him back like Oruta said.

Eep! You're right!

Anyway, here, Fujimaru. We got a bunch of bread from the shop, so you can just pick whichever looks good to you.

...How's that sound?

？！

Incidentally, the shop lady and I both recommend the handmade mild curry bread! It's salty, sweet, and really good!

Me, I've gotta recommend the deep-fried pork cutlet sandwich. It's a classic for a reason.

Oh, we also got drinks. There's strawberry milk, bottled coffee, oolong tea... Grab whichever you want, 'kay?

So, uh, by the way...how was your date with President Marie yesterday?

Pfft! You're already sticking your nose in that!?

Ulp. W-well...I considered following them, but in the end, I didn't have the guts to do more than fantasize about it...

So, how else am I gonna find out what happened!?

Hey, I get how you feel. I really do. But still!

Listen, Fujimaru, if you don't want to answer that, it's totally fine not t

？！

...Ulp. I'm sorry.

Hey, nice to see you actually can apologize.

？！

...Huh?

What do you mean? Did she just want to pick your brain about the spring student council election or something?

Oh! I know! Was it one of those less than a friend, less than a lover situations!?

Uh... Wouldn't that just make them strangers? Or passing acquaintances at most?

Heh!

Whoa, you laughed. That kind of startled me.

I didn't actually know the new-new kid laughed.

We have an unplanned security inspection this afternoon. I must ask that you all leave the school building and go home now.

If you see any other students staying behind, tell them to do the same.

Yes, sir.

Huh? But, Mr. Salieri...

Didn't you say earlier we could use the empty classroom on the third floor for trumpet practice?

...Not today, I'm afraid. Now go home.

B-but, everyone in the trumpet section was going to

Go home.

!

Don't make me say it again. Understood?

If you can't use the school building today, why not just practice at the edge of the athletic field?

Right?

In fact, that's exactly what you should do. Don't worry, I'll square it with the teacher.

Now why don't you go tell the other trumpet players where the new practice spot is?

Amatsuka-senpai... Th-thank you.

...Amatsuka.

Well now, what's going on with you, Mr. Salieri? You're acting awfully childish today.

One could be forgiven for thinking you desperately wanted the school building empty so you can use it for personal business.

An unplanned security inspection, hm? I wonder... Will I really find a notice about that if I go check the faculty lounge?

You need to go home, too. You shouldn't be here.

...Khh.

It...could be...dangerous. Leave.

You don't look so good, Mr. Salieri. Are you sure you're not the one in danger?

Shut...up...

Huh?

Shut up. Shut up, shut up, shut up...

Shut...up...

Mr. Salieri?

I am not Salieri!

Antonio Salieri is dead! He's as dead now as he's ever been!

No, I... I am the slayer of the child loved by God! I am the Grim Reaper, scorched by the wildfire of rumor!

I am an Avenger! I exist to kill those who deserve death!

RRRAAAHHH!

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! My purpose for being is to kill you.

Wooo♪

Those are some amazing special effects, Mr. Salieri! They look like something from Screaming Mad George!

OOOH!

？！

Oh! Aren't you

Tch! That was fiendishly clever of you to Ascend your Spirit Origin, virtuoso of death!

We share the same Master, so I will spare your head. But be prepared to lose an arm or a leg...or both!

At least TRY to hold back, okay!? We're still in the school!

Anyway, I guess we should give him credit for holding out until classes were over. Impressive willpower.

He even made sure the other students left early. Maybe he's still got a few marbles left rolling around up there.

？！

Yeah. Luckily for us, there aren't any other students here apart from Amadeus right now...

...so we can go as hard as we want! Let's do this, Mr. Sal!

...I am fire. ...I am darkness.

I am the one who shall kill the child loved by God right here and now!

U-U-UoooAH! UOOOAAAAAAAAAHHH!

？！

Stay back! Don't come near...me... UOOAAAAAAHHH!

Dammit, he got away!

...Shit. I just realized fake AmadeI mean, Amatsuka-senpai isn't here!

Perhaps Salieri went after him?

Crap, you think so too? Shit, shit, shit! He kept calling him "Amadeus," didn't he?

？！

...Focus. You nearly collapsed.

Hm? What is it? What are you looking at?

？！

Feeling dizzy? You'd better not be running low on magical energy.

Maybe it's some kind of spell? Keep a close eye on him, Kagekiyo.

...All right, let's do this. We've gotta stop him before he kills the fake Amadeus!

All right, which way should we go?

？！

"Class Duty: Sakuma and Suzuki"... Someone must've forgot to erase this.

That's all. I don't see anything related to Mr. Sal here.

Hm?

Let's see... There's an attendance book inside.

The lockers are for the students.

Yeah...I don't see us finding anything useful there.

？！

...Crap. I'm on class duty tomorrow.

Hahaha. As I believe they say nowadays, "sucks to be you."

There's nothing here. Ms. Fuka took the attendance book with her.

These student lockers are quite small. I cannot even fit a single bamboo sword in one.

You're not supposed to!

？！

...You shouldn't lean on that. It's dangerous.

Easy though it would be to scale this fence, I see no sign of Salieri here.

What is that tank?

Isn't that just a water tank? Doubt we'll find a clue in there.

Who the hell left that here!? You shouldn't waste food, dammit!

Disgraceful.

？！

There's something written here...

Some sort of song?

I think it's a poem. Looks like it's about youth and springtime.

It says "S-50" here, which probably means Showa 50, so that would be...1975, I think.

Do not be so quick to judge. Perhaps it stands for the Shoan period. (Note: 1171 to 1175)

Well, that'd make this school one helluva historic landmark... Freakin' moron.

Could he be hiding over here? ...It seems not.

Come on. Do you really think we're gonna find Salieri hiding in the damn trees? Don't be stupid.

Not gonna lie, though...it'd be pretty hilarious if we did.

They've gotta be getting rid of this thing, right? The whole thing's rusty.

I do not see anything noteworthy here.

？！

Isn't the homeroom teacher supposed to hold on to these?

Who cares?

You should! Are you sure your vessel is really from this time period?

Anyway, I don't like the look of it. I'm gonna check it out.

... ...

...Aha. I knew it. Take a look, Master.

？！

So, did he go to the music room to try and keep himself calm, or did he ignore it and go after Fake Amadeus?

You being you, you're thinking the former, I bet?

Well, I agree. No objections here.

Let's see... I think the music room was the one way at the very back of the first floor.

It looks like our best lead right now. I just hope Fake Amadeus didn't head over there himself...

Wait!

Blech, more of these walking bloody intestine things! They're so gross!

Shut up! I'm gonna incinerate these things, okay, Master!?

？！

Understood. Kagekiyo, moving to annihilate!

And now there's flame things too. Freakin' fantastic. Could this get any worse!?

There are even more of them now. Are they trying to stop us?

Tch. I really don't wanna take too long on these things...

All right, I'll hold them off. You two go on ahead to the music room!

Yes, I'm sure! Now quit wasting time! GO!

？！

You know, sometimes, I think about the meaning of life.

"Why were we born? Why do we exist?" That kind of thing.

Long story short...

Everyone has their own answers to those questions.

Some people live for love, some live to make their wishes come true...

...some live for tears, some for anger.

It's great! It's all great!

Just as every star in the sky twinkles in its own special way, as each instrument has its own singular sound...

...people should be unique too!

But here's the trick: that uniqueness has to be an innate part of you. Natural.

If you're ever going to shine, you have to play a melody that suits you.

People, instruments, stars... There's no point in twisting them into what you think they should be.

That's true whether you live for love, or wishes, or to lose yourself in grief...

...or to kill someone in a rage.

Right? I mean, where's the fun in that!?

What do you think, Mr. Salieri?

Is that angerthat fire really coming from you?

...N-nn... Gh... Ghh...

I...

...Gott...lieb...Mozart... I'll

Kill me?

I'm honored to be mistaken for the legendary Mozart, but still...

...is that really what YOU want, Mr. Salieri? Is that coming from your heart?

Is someone making you say that? Is that how you've felt all this time and you've just been hold it in...

...only for someone to appear and tear away your restraint or something?

If that's what happened, that'd suck. I can't just let you kill me, you know.

If your performance is meant to be my death, you should at least be playing from the soul!

Not that that'll be enough to kill me, though!

...U, Uu, UUU...!

Hm? I can't hear you!

Come on, put it into real sound! For a guy acting like Antonio Salieri...

...your melody just isn't coming together at all! Hahahahahaha!

I'm getting tired of all your dissonance, so go on! Don't hold back!

Go on, play a real song already! If you can, that is!

Why you!

Ha! Just in time!

If you wish to blame anyone, blame yourself for restraining your own blade!

Hehe, your little letter was most helpful indeed!

？！

...Phew. That's a relief. You both look much more ready now.

You're playing so much more harmoniously I almost didn't recognize you.

Anyway, since I'm just an ordinary person, I'd be delighted if you'd take it from here.

Do you mind?

Not at all.

Come, Master!

？！

OOooh... OOOOOOHHHH!

Get...

OUT OF MY WAY!

OOOoOOOh!

？！

!

This looks bad. No... It very much IS bad. That look on your face worries me, Master.

Is it possible that, with one of your Heroic Spirits running amok...

...that very rampage is influencing you as well?

？！

...!

I am...fire! I am darkness!

Here and now, I shall...I shall...I shall, I shall, I shall...! Gottlieb Mozaaaaaart!!!

...!

Well damn.

I guess this might not be the best time to apologize.

Sure. Call me whatever you like.

That's right. It's me.

？！

UOOOOOOOOOHHH!!! I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!

You have courage, student! Your stepping forth seemingly without a care in the world...

...makes it much easier to lure the music teacher out!

...!

So be it, musician! If you insist on standing in our way...

...I will kill you where you stand!

UOOOH!

...I might not've known your circumstances at the time, but I still said something horribly insensitive to you.

That's why I wanted to apologize. Because now, I know what you've been through.

...It was in the newspaper. I stumbled across it earlier.

I knew I was a little detached from the world in general...but I never wanted to hurt you.

Ever since I found out, I've been hating myself so much I can barely look in the mirror.

But...

Having said that, I'm still going to say something even more insensitive.

Listen to me, Fujimaru.

You have someone you really care about, right?

I don't know if they're alive or dead, but I do know they're right there with you, even now.

Imagine them. No... Remember them.

What are they doing right now?

？！

？！

Oho. Looks like you got a very clear picture indeed. Then let's try this again.

Tell me, Fujimaru...

What is this person you care for doing?

？！

？！

I see.

Then let me now ask you this: What does that scene inspire you to do?

Will you let your rage blaze out of control and kill someone, like him?

Are you going to look for the people who hurt youthe people you can never forgive...

...and kill them?

Are you going to track them down, catch them, and kill them all?

Is that what you want?

Is that the kind of place you and that girl are trying to reach?

？！

？！

？！

...A journey, huh.

That's great. So philosophical! I like your choice of words there!

Oh, and just to be clear, I'm not saying taking revenge is wrong.

It may be meaningless, and you may not have anything to show for it once you're done...

...but, if nothing else, I'm sure revenge feels great.

Have you ever read "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas?

It's one of the most famous tales of revenge in the world.

People are drawn to stories like that.

Of course, the whole point of the book is transcending the desire for revenge. Only after his vengeance is complete does Dantès finally find his answer.

I'm sure that answer is brillianta shining example of humanity's ideals.

But, that being said...

I'm sure revenge feels great! Well, for the one doing the taking, anyway.

And no life could be said to be complete without at least the occasional bit of fun.

So I'm not here to yuck anyone's yum.

That goes for Mr. Salieri and his rage bender, too.

If you want to kill someone, kill them. You should do whatever you feel like doing.

Your life is yours to do with what you will.

You can choose whatever you want, whenever you want.

It's never too late, or even too early!

You can decide what to do before you're born, and you can change your mind after you're dead.

Isn't that right, Mr. Salieri?

...(Sigh)

Well, don't you sound as though you've got it all figured out?

If you actually did have a full picture of the situation when you said that, then you're either extremely wise or terribly foolish.

(Huff, huff... Huff...) Huh? What's going on?

I finally finish off those bloody masses and fire creatures and make it here, only to find Mr. Sal acting cool as a freaking cucumber...?

？！

'Course I am... (Huff, huff...)

I will admit... (Gasp...) I'm majorly exhausted after fighting so hard for so long...

So seriously, what happened here? What's Salieri doing back in his calm schoolteacher Spirit Origin all of a sudden?

Honestly, it's kind of creeping me out...

(Sigh) So the musician has lost the will to fight. How dull.

I was prepared to cut his Spirit Core in two at any moment. Reluctantly, of course.

You creep me out, too.

That was not me speaking. The Yoshitsune withinoutside of?me drives me to act that way.

Yeah, yeah, whatever.

Welp, now that my beloved Mr. Salieri is back to his old self...

...I think I'm going to skedaddle.

If I'm reading all this right, there's still plenty of rough stuff to come, right?

Yeah.

Indeed.

Well, I'm not going to pry. I can tell this isn't the kind of thing a regular guy like me should get mixed up in.

？！

... ...

I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any regrets, but...

...No, never mind. I don't think I have a part to play in the coming saga.

This song is yours. Don't be afraid to play it however you like!

？！

... ...

I wonder how much he really knows. Or...doesn't know.

Hm?

Uh, you know, I'm just saying, geniuses are freaky!

Anyway, Mr. Sal, now that you're back to normal, there's something I want to make sure of.

You wrote something about your queen, right?

I did.

The student council president did this to me. I never thought I would hear such hideous words from my queen's own mouth.

She tainted my Spirit Origin and tried to make me go on a rampage, just like what happened with Boudica.

There is an excellent chance that Towano Marie and the vice-principal are either the ringleaders behind this incident or at least somehow connected to them, whoever they might be.

？！

That much seems certain.

I sensed neither a Servant aura nor any magical energy from them, but they could be using a skill or Noble Phantasm to conceal that.

I suspect they're still somewhere in the school. I know we've all just been fighting, but I believe we should take them down now.

I can't say whether they are Servants meant for the trials but it's clear they mean us harm. I see no reason to leave them alone.

Of course, the decision is ultimately yours, Master. What would you have us do?

？！

...The time has come.

The time has come. The time has come.

At last, the third and fourth trials...

...will arrive.

Which means...

...the seven fragments of our soul will soon follow.

...Heh. You never fail to make me laugh.

But no more. I understand very well now. You have pushed yourself too far.

After summoning Heroic Spirits from your precious Chaldea...

...your Spirit Core is now all but gone.

It's time to end this. You can stay there and continue to rot away.

I will be the one...

...to finish what has started.

Ahh! Ahh! I never dreamed they would TALK out their differences!

Well done, Master of Chaldea and associates! I congratulate you on your hard-won, if fleeting victory!

But, enough with the appetizers.

Let us now begin the main coursethe third and fourth trials.

Come, my queen. My destiny. My icon.

Now is the time...to sound the trumpet.