Section 5: Competence

...Hmm. The Rider and the Assassin, eh.

Nobbu!

Hmph. Well, it doesn't matter how many weaklings band together. They have no chance against me.

In the meantime, continue gathering all the information you can.

Nobu!

Lady Nobunaga...

...What is it?

There is a messenger here, on the Caster's behalf.

Oh? The Caster, eh... I can't imagine they're serious about wanting to team up...

Well, no matter. Go and hear what it is they have to say, Nobukatsu.

Yes, Lady Nobunaga! Consider it done, Sister.

!!!

Outta my way, moron!

!?

Hmph... Weakling. Come on, the path's clear now.

？！

What? Ya got a problem with how I deal with things?

If I hadn't cut that thing down, you'd be breathing through your neck right now.

Or would you have preferred to die so we could spare its feelings?

？！

Hmph. Well, your Servant IS quite weak.

This would have been a much longer fight if I hadn't been here.

...That may be true, but it's still mean of you to say. Anyway, are you sure about this, Master?

This Servant tried to kill Master.

It's okay. Izo at least takes his job seriously. I know he'll do great, just like he did for Mr. Katsu.

It's not JUST my job I take seriously!

Relax. I'm a man of my word.

...Unlike that lying Ryouma.

...We grew up in the same town. We used to play and go fishing together all the time.

Huh? Are you as thickheaded as he is? I'm only helping you out for the time being!

？！

Anyway, once this is over, I'm just going to kill you all at once.

...This is it.

？！

I'm an Assassin. This is kind of my thing, kid.

Once I set my sights on someone, they don't get away.

I see. So that's how you found us.

...Quiet.

Something's not right... I can't sense the Lancer's presence anymore.

Lancer was here just a moment ago, I'm sure of it...

I'm divine punishment incarnate! I don't MAKE mistakes!

？！

...Aha. That explains it.

It looks like someone got here before us.

...Come on. They're inside.

...Welcome, friend. Or, at least, welcome, visitor from the Far East.

Then again, I only just got here myself, so maybe greetings aren't necessary.

...Did you kill the Lancer?

Kakaka, easy there!

This Holy Grail War has been rather dull, what with so few worthwhile opponents to fight.

I was hoping these official Servants would be more of a challenge in their own territory, but as you can see, I was sadly mistaken.

I was told that Holy Grail Wars were a fearsome clash between heroes old and new.

So naturally, I was curious to pit my own skills against these great heroes.

However, it seems that my reputation for killing in a single strike still rings true.

What an incredible letdown it was when the battle really was over with a single strike.

？！

...Shut it.

Hmph, I bet you're one of those dilettantes who only practices martial arts in the safety of their dojo. Awfully smut for a glorified athlete.

I hate to bring you down while you are clearly riding high on your victories over so many weaklings...

...but I'm afraid now that I've found you, your luck's run out.

Prepare to be cut down where you stand!

Good, good. That's the sort of absurd boasting I had been hoping for. Now I need not hold back.

So, which of you would like to face me first? Or I can also take you all on at once if you prefer.

Huh? These two are only here to watch.

I can handle a little spear-wielder like you without breaking a sweat.

...Now DIE!

Kaka, that's more like it!

I look forward to seeing what challenge, if any, your swordsmanship offers.

...This is awful. All these beautiful flowers, snuffed out in their prime.

Even for a Berserker, this is horrific.

This park is supposed to be for everyone.

It looks like he just went around killing anyone who happened to be close by. Even Oryou wouldn't make this much of a mess.

I don't know about that. You can get awfully messy. Anyway...how do we find the Berserker in question...

...Hey, you.

Ah. Ryouma, behind you.

Hey, you... Are you with Satsuma, or Choushu?

Oh, well then... It seems the Berserker found us.

Huh? Wait a moment... I know there's something wildly different about you, but aren't you...

...Well, well. It looks like Izo isn't the only blast from my past here.

Answer me... Are you with Satsuma, or Choushu?

If you refuse to answer...

...that will itself be answer enough...!

I never thought I'd run into the Demon Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi having a drink among the cherry blossoms here of all places.

Looks like you won't need to hold back, Oryou!

So you are my enemies. Just as I thought.

...This area belongs to the Shinsengumi. Nobody sets foot here and leaves alive!

...I-impossible!

H-how can I be losing!?

...How boring. You really are all bark and no bite.

I can see where this is going. The best you can hope for is to die honorably now.

Go ahead, come at me one more time. I can at least give you a quick death.

...This can't be happening!

My...my sword is invincible!

...W-wait, of course! The territory!

You changed places with that Lancer you defeated, didn't you!

You can't fool me! I know how you Three Knight Classes get way more support from the Holy Grail than the rest of us!

Y-you're a coward, using cheap tricks like that!

？！

...He's not using anything. ...He's just strong, plain and simple.

...What a shame. If only you didn't have such a short temper.

You have enough natural talent that, with training, you could have really been something.

C-COULD have been!?

My sword has never failed me!

Nobody could beat me! I could make any other style my own just be seeing it in action once!

I...I am a genius with the sword!

I know. You clearly have a gift for observation. You even surpass me in raw talent.

Wha...!?

But that's all you have. A true martial artist must be skilled in many disciplines. Training only in one discipline is no path to supremacy.

You should have disposed with such foolish notions while you were still young. Unfortunately, it seems fate was not kind to you.

I can tell you must have died while you were still young and foolish. What a waste.

What did you say...?

Enough talk now. I have sworn to take no more than one life per battle.

This is as far as you go, Assassin, but I'm willing to let the boy live for now.

After all, if I were to kill everyone every time, I'd soon run out of prey with which to make my living.

？！

...Got it.

Are you mad!? How many times have I told you!? Even I was no match for him!

There's no way such a pathetically weak Servant as her could last more than a second!

...

...I see. So you will be my true opponent.

Very well then, yours will be the life I take in this battle.

...Master, this Servant is very strong.

But I won't let him kill you. I promise.

？！

Trust born from loyalty, hmm? Very well then. It's been some time since I killed a human!

...Guh!

？！

Hahahaha! This was quite an exciting match!

You were doomed from the start, but still you blocked my attacks no fewer than three times!

Pathetic swordsmanship indeed. You seem to lack confidence in your skills...but that is obviously not because you had it once and then lost it.

No, I believe there is nothing wrong with you as you are now.

...!

That is why your last push was so powerful.

...The gods can be quite cruel. You have lost your destiny, and so remain ignorant. Yet from that ignorance came a flawless, techniqueless decisive blow.

Your conviction was a sight to behold. You must care about that boy a great deal.

...Lancer.

...Still, I may not have lost if I hadn't relaxed my guard. I suppose I'm in no position to lecture.

You there, subservient Assassin. I would say that my spear and your sword were a hairsbreadth apart.

What...?

But even a hairsbreadth can be a world of distance.

...Why are you helping me?

You remind me of myself. I went around causing no end of trouble when I was young, too.

Take it from this old man. If you want to progress, it's not too late toAh, perhaps it is too late, since Servants don't grow or change?

Well, no matter. Even if what I tell you helps only in this conflict, it will still be of significance.

Take this as a chance to work on your swordplay. Rebuild your skills from the ground up.

Stop wasting time telling your opponents how much better than them you are. Instead simply demonstrate your superior strength and skill.

The task is the same, of course. But changing your approach will change how you feel about it.

Besides... It's fun to surpass one's own limits.

...

Yes... His skill with a spear was incredible. I'm still not quite sure how I did it.

...Am I? It's hard for me to tell.

？！

...Now that I think of it, I feel like I'm moving better after seeing that Saber fight.

...Hey. This is as far as we go together.

？！

...Wait. I hate to say it...

...but your battle with that Lancer helped to weaken him.

...Shut up. We're not friends, or allies, or even friendly acquaintances.

I had a job to do, and now it's done. We meet next as enemies, and I won't show you any mercy.

...