Act 1: Meet a Demon, Slay a Demon

(Huff... Huff...!)

...Khh! Haaa!

What the hell are these things? Some kind of demon?

Whatever they are, they seem to have a taste for humans. Can't have that.

If I don't do something about them, a lot of good Edoites are gonna die.

And that would be bad. Unforgivable, even.

I can't let any of them go. I need to take them all down here and now.

Haaa!

Skree!?

You're finished.

I can't believe monsters like this are running around a town. It's like something out of the Night Parade of a Hundred Oni.

What in the world is happening here?

Oh my. So you've fallen from grace, too.

...!

Ghh!?

Urk!

(I felt that one hard, even though I blocked it! This is no ordinary opponent!)

Long time no see. Come to think of it, our first encounter was on a similarly bright moonlit night, wasn't it?

(A woman? And what's more...)

...

(...she has incredible sword ki!)

So we're doing this!?

Stand down, Rider.

My liege.

Striking down an enemy without even showing yourself runs counter to my code. I thought you knew that, Rider.

...Yes, my liege.

(Now what've we got?)

How unfortunate that you are the first Master to finally appear...

...Lord Miyamoto Iori.

How do you know my name?

Lord Iori, I once saw great light within you.

I used to pray that my feelings were not misguided.

But now

Forgive me for speaking out of turn, my liege, but I believe this jest of yours has gone on long enough.

You have nothing to gain and much to lose by speaking to the enemy.

Enough, Rider. This is just who I am.

Now that a Master has finally appeared, the true Waxing Moon Ritual can properly begin.

So please, allow me to introduce myself properly.

I am Yui Shousetsu, and I shall be a liberator.

...Yui Shousetsu.

Lord Miyamoto Iori...I must take your life.

...

...Gnh! Take it if you can!

Gaaah!

(She really is strong. Way stronger than any human.)

(This is a demon's strength if ever I've seen it.)

What's wrong? Why aren't you calling your Servant?

What is your Servant, anyway? Is it the same Saber you had before?

Servant? Saber? What are you talking about?

I will not allow you to have the Waxing Moon. I will not allow you to dash my hopes and dreams!

If you wish to defeat me, then fight me with all your strength!

My liege's wishes are my commands. I will gladly "right" everything in our way.

(This is bad. I don't know how I'm gonna get out of this one...)

(Come on, Iori, think!)

You're very close now, Master! Please be careful!

？！

We are detecting massive amounts of magical energy being expended as well. They are clearly Servants.

None of these Servants are registered to our Spirit Origin graph. But this Spirit Origin pattern does look familiar...

？！

Another enemy!?

？！

Hm?

？！

Huh!? How do you know Rider's True Name?

You're right. This Spirit Origin pattern is very close to Minamoto-no-Raikou's.

It must be an alternate version of her.

Does that mean she's the Servant you were talking about?

Having Minamoto-no-Raikou on our side would certainly be a tremendous boon!

I hope she is, but I am not so sure...

Haha... Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Waaaaaah! That's terrifying! Where'd that come from!?

Rejoice, my liege. This interloper bears the marks we seek.

Command Spells!

I see. So you too are one of the Masters seeking the Waxing Moon.

The omnipotent wish granter known as the Waxing Moon.

Surely you too have a wish you desperately hope for the Waxing Moon to grant.

...Are they talking about a Holy Grail?

Seven Masters and seven Servants must battle to the death.

For it is through our lives that the Waxing Moon will become full.

Huh!? That sounds just like a Holy Grail War...

？！

What is your name, wish-bearing Master?

...I see. No hesitation whatsoever.

Then I shall respond in kind, Lord Fujimaru.

...So you would rather not say. I understand.

As one attempting the Ritual, you are correct to play your cards close to your chest.

Nonetheless, I have decided I will still tell you my own name.

？！

I am Yui Shousetsu. I desire nothing more than a truly equitable society.

Yui Shousetsu! I see. So that's why we're in the fourth year of Keian.

In Proper Human History, Yui Shousetsu was a military scholar in Edo period Japan.

He opened a school called the Choukoudou that taught both military strategy and martial arts to over three thousand pupils.

And most notably, he was the ringleader of a ronin-led coup d'etat known as the Keian Uprising.

That's right. He was a military scholar in Edo period Japan who plotted to overthrow the shogunate.

That plot is also known as the Keian Uprising, and became the impetus for the Tokugawa shogunate to begin governing in a more civil fashion.

？！

The fourth year of Keian is the year the Keian Uprising took place.

It is also the temporal location of this Singularity, which makes me think Yui Shousetsu must be a key figure here as well.

(Doesn't look like this guy's on Yui Shousetsu's side.)

(So, what's my next move?)

This battle has taken a chaotic turn, but such is the way of war. I leave this in your hands, Rider.

Understood.

I'll be taking those Command Spells, thank you.

So she's an enemy, not an ally!? This couldn't have gone worse!

Here she comes, Master! Please prepare for battle!

What did you just do?

The Ritual is supposed to be fought by seven Masters, with each Master contracted to a single Servant.

But you're commanding several Heroic Spirits at once.

Are you using some twisted dark art to turn the Rogues into your puppets, like Tsuchimikado?

I knew it.

My liege, this man is a visitor from beyond this world.

He is not of this time at all.

Beyond this world, you say? I take it you don't mean he merely hails from overseas then.

...Chaldea.

？！

Chaldea is a group of mages that has ventured to countless worlds and commands countless Heroic Spirits.

How do you know all that? Did the Waxing Moon confer that knowledge upon you?

...Well, no matter. For now, I will just ask you this.

Is he a threat?

As mages go, this man is among the worst of the worst. He cannot hold a candle to you.

But as a Master, his achievements are unparalleled in all of history.

I see. Then there is no sense in holding back. Kill him. Now.

Ha!

As I thought, your swordplay is masterful. Masterful, but insufficient!

A protective spell, huh.

？！

Are you Yui Shousetsu's enemy?

？！

Then we're in the same boat.

As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Will you help me fight?

？！

Good. Then for now, we fall back!

...!

A smoke screen...

Go after them, Rider. These creatures will help you.

Understood.

...

If I am to achieve the equitable world I seek, then I cannot let you have the Waxing Moon...

...Lord Iori.