Act 6: Like the Tumultuous Age of the Warring States

This is not what I expected to see in Akasaka!

What the...!? Those monsters are fighting each other!

I don't think so. One side is weirdly organized.

It's probably Shousetsu or Chiemon's forces fighting the monsters that were already living here.

Whoever it is, they must be after Akasaka's Spirit Font, too. We may be a little too late.

That's my guess. Especially since one side is obviously organized.

They must be part of either Shousetsu or Chiemon's forces.

Whoever it is must have sent them here so they could claim Akasaka's Spirit Font for themself.

？！

Iori. Over there, in the back.

That thing's clearly not like the other monsters. It's probably a leader of some kind, like the one we saw in Yoshiwara.

A general, huh? Then we know which one to take down first!

Hold on. The smart move here is to wait until both sides wear each other down before we move in.

Why? Wouldn't it be faster to just kill them all ourselves?

(Sigh) Oh, Saber...

No, Saber's right.

We can't be sure one or both of them won't send in reinforcements. Waiting's not a good idea.

Let's do this, Saber, Fujimaru.

Good grief. I hope you're right about this...

Fujimaru!

Khh! That was...too close...!

Who are you!?

Kaka! So, you deflected my spear by a hairsbreadth!

You people seem like you should be the most entertaining fight I've had yet!

It almost makes me sad to kill you!

So you're the Rogue Assassin!

Actually, I'm a Lancer now. I may not look it, but I'm pretty good with a spear.

Oh? So you've met my older self, too? I'm very jealous.

？！

This is just like what happened with Sétanta. It's a younger version of Rogue Assassin!

I had no idea you were so...wild when you were young.

Oh? My older self might not be so different deep down.

Why are you attacking us, Li Shuwen?

Did Yui send you again?

I remember during the last Ritual, you sided with her even though you were a Rogue.

Hm? Ah, I see. So that's what I did back then.

Maybe I took pity on her, like a father would his poor, helpless daughter.

Huh?

No, you're not wrong, Saber.

It's true, I am helping that girl. But, having said that...

...I'm much more interested in fighting you than I am in babysitting her.

So we're doing this!?

Come now, relax. This is all just a game.

？！

Oh? I nearly killed you, and yet you still have the composure to turn your thoughts elsewhere?

I can't tell if you have nerves of steel, or if you're just too much of a fool to realize the danger you're in.

Very well then. I'll just have to use my spear to find out which it is!

What's the matter!? You're leaving yourself open!

Diversion or not, if you don't fight me like your life depends on it, you'll be dead in no time!

...That was my plan from the start!

(Iori... I knew it. You're enjoying this.)

(It's just like what happened during the last Waxing Moon Ritual...)

Whoa! What in the world was that!?

Hm. ...It seems I've played a bit too long. Now they've gone and made the first move.

？！

I suppose there's no helping it.

Guess I'd better go do my job. I really don't want to have to sit through a talking-to from a young girl.

Wait, Rogue AssassinI mean, Lancer!

Ugh, never mind! Come on, you two! We need to go after him!

Ha!

Heh!

...Lancer or no, I assumed from the way you carry yourself that the spear couldn't possibly be your weapon of choice.

Kaka! Forgive me, girl! I couldn't have been more wrong!

Enough wasting time.

The Rogue isn't our objective. Quit playing with him.

...Yes, Master. I'll take care of him right away.

Well, now I'm hurt. Pale imitation or not, this is still a Holy Grail War.

We should be enjoying these fights of ours. ...Right!?

？！

Damn. More pains in my ass.

Chiemon!

Miyamoto Iori. Ugh, now your ugly ass is here too.

Piss off. You're ruining my hell.

Well, that was mean.

But if you mean to use the Waxing Moon to bring about disaster, then I'm going to have to stop you.

You're still spouting nonsense like that? How shameless can you be?

Don't let him get to you, Iori.

I won't. I don't know what he has against me...

...but I'm just here to do what needs to be done.

It's gonna be a real pain having you all skulking around here...

...Know what? Since you're all here, I'll just kill you now!

Yes, I will reduce any who stand in our way to ash.

Ha!

Hrn!

Oh no, you don't!

...!

Iori, look! It's just like what happened at Yoshiwara!

That monster is absorbing an enormous amount of telluric energy for itself! It won't go down easily!

Hell itself is filling that monster. I knew it. It's gotta be the keystone for this area.

Lancer!

Understood.

Things are getting lively around here. Now this is more like it.

It's been one chaotic battle after another, but we'll just have to get through it! Watch my back, Fujimaru!

？！

(...All this commotion, and still no sign of Zheng.)

(I guess he isn't in Akasaka after all. Maybe he's laying low and biding his time.)

(Or maybe he's...)

It's over!

Got you!

Well done, Saber!

Why you...!

Now!

Ghh!

Dammit... Guess this is it.

...Master.

I told you, don't call me "Master"!

...

...We got what we came for. Let's go.

It sucks that we missed out on the Spirit Font, but better this than it going to Yui Shousetsu.

Understood. Let's go then.

Wait!

...Damn. They got away.

Hmm. I guess that's all for today then.

This was fun, kids. Next time, I hope we can fight without any interruptions.

You've got some nerve, saying that after all the trouble you caused.

Kaka, knock it off. Flattery will get you nowhere.

This may not be much of an apology, but if you need help, call on me.

I'll wield my spear for your cause from now on.

...What about Shousetsu?

I really only agreed to help her out a bit because she was just so pitiful.

But I've fulfilled any obligations I had to her by now.

Besides...I really want to fight that Heroic Spirit, Rider.

？！

Farewell. I hope we can cross blades again some time.

Well done! We now control both the Yoshiwara and Akasaka Spirit Fonts.

This will significantly expand our range of operations.

Maybe so, but...we never did find Zheng here.

Hmm, true, that particular aspect of things was a bust yet again. How frustrating.

It's like I said yesterday. Just knowing there's no Master in Akasaka is valuable.

But even putting that aside, there's more to worry about.

For example, that monster leader with the telluric energy, like we saw in Yoshiwara.

There were powerful monsters around during the last Ritual too, of course.

But, even so

I've not seen any monsters that large or with that much magical energy before.

Not since that malevolent Orochi at Yokosuka, anyway... Oh, wait. Was that just the enemy's Noble Phantasm?

Regardless, it seems clear that there is someone pulling the strings behind the scenes.

If those earlier battles are any indication, then that someone probably isn't Shousetsu or Chiemon.

？！

(...Something's not adding up.)

(What could it be?)

(Why are Yui and Chiemon here, but not Takao or Zheng?)

(And then Iori's... No, never mind.)

(He's not my Master anymore.)

(In which case...)

？！

...Hmmm.

...Ahh, it's no use! I can't get my thoughts straight!

Well, no point worrying about what you can't change! Let's just head back to Asakusa, Iori!

Yeah... Good point. We don't have any business here anymore.

And I AM pretty tired after all that fighting.

Yeah, we should head back before any more trouble finds us.

Giving up already, Iori? I thought you were made of sterner stuff than that.

？！

Hehe, oh, all right.

Then let's head back to the row house and have some dinner!

Hehehehe, I wonder what tonight's main dish will be?

Good grief. Is food all you ever think about, Saber?

...Still, it's good to see that smile.

(Although...I'm surprised to find myself feeling so heartened by it.)

(I've always lived my life devoted to the sword. I didn't even know I was capable of feeling this way.)

(I never even thought about it before. Even with my devotion to the sword, I still...)

...

...Rider.

I'm here, my liege.

Tell me something.

Of course.

Am I...

...Am I really...

... ...

...Is something wrong, my liege?

...Never mind. I'm sorry. It's nothing.

...You are dismissed, Rider.

Yes, my liege.

...

...Come now, Shousetsu. This is not the time for doubt or second thoughts.

...Chaldea.

A Masterone with the Command Spells I seek, has finally appeared.

...The Waxing Moon Ritual WILL succeed.

...O moon.

O cold and desolate moon, melting into the darkness.

Ahh... You are like nothing more than...