Thanks for the invitation. I'm in Type-Moon, inheriting the legacy of Zi-O.

First encounter: A guy whose true identity is impossible to discern?

The only sounds were the dim yellow streetlights and the occasional creaking of the wind against the window frames.

"It feels rather quiet..." Marisha looked at the smoke-filled streets around her and covered her nose. "There's hardly anyone on the streets... I can't even see the enemies..."

“Those life-threatening signs around me must be the surviving Londoners.” Mary rubbed her temples, looking somewhat worried. “I suppose everyone is at a loss because they can’t get out of their houses.”

"Let's do what we need to do first." Nian Zhuo looked at the surrounding demonic mist, realizing that his own power was also somewhat inadequate. "Then we'll think of a way to solve this problem."

“…Yes, that’s right, Mr. Nianzhuo.” Mash, having found her direction after her initial hesitation, nodded. “As long as we can obtain the Holy Grail and destroy it, the very existence of this abnormal London will be corrected. So… the existence of both the citizens who lost their lives in this fog and those who sought refuge indoors will definitely be corrected.” Mash gripped her shield tightly.

"As long as I, my senior, and Mr. Nianzhuo resolve this matter, the phenomena related to the magic mist should completely disappear." A sense of responsibility flickered between his brows, then vanished in an instant. "So... um... right, uh..."

"What Mashu is trying to say is that Mr. Nencho is such a kind person, am I right?" Ritsuka whispered in Mashu's ear with a sly smile.

"………………" After a long silence, Mashu turned her head slightly and puffed out her cheeks.

"Huh, huh??" Ritsuka was completely taken aback by Mash's reaction and became flustered. "Is something wrong? Wait, no, no, did I say something I shouldn't have?"

“…Someone’s coming.” Ryotaro adjusted his glasses and looked into the smoke.

The otherworldly gods also looked in that direction.

"—That's right." Mary's voice came a step later, "There's a biological response."

The clanging of armor rang out, and a heavily armored knight clad in silver armor appeared before everyone.

The helmet with two horns looked somewhat ferocious, and the armor on his body clanged and rattled as he moved forward.

Moreover, the scarlet patterns on the silver armor looked particularly ferocious, and he held a silver longsword in one hand, constantly drawing sparks on the ground.

"…………Who are you?" A flash of crimson lightning streaked across the blade as he raised his longsword.

"Um...yes, I...we are—" Mashu hadn't yet calmed down from what she had just said, and spoke somewhat incoherently.

However, the knight opposite him rubbed his tousled hair, and the crimson lightning on the blade of his sword slowly materialized.

"Anyone who can breathe safely in this thick fog must be no ordinary human." The unfamiliar figure, with a carefree smile, raised his longsword at Mashu. "So, which side are you on? Enemy? Friend?"

“(I’d like to ask her the same question in return…Director Mary, is she human… or…)” Mashu whispered to Mary on the other end of the communication device.

“(So even Mashu couldn’t detect it? Mine couldn’t either…)” Mary bit her thumb, looking at the chaotic reactions on the screen with a headache. “There’s too much magic around, we can’t detect any reactions at all. But since she’s wearing armor, she can’t be an ordinary London citizen…” Her thoughts were like a tangled mess, making Mary rub her temples.

“Tsk, what a hassle. I thought things would be easier this time, with the city limited to a few areas.” Mary tapped the table in front of her. “This is getting tricky because we don’t know who she is. Is she just an ordinary person who happens to be resistant to magic? Or a magician, or a Servant—?”

However, the result displayed on the screen was still unrecognizable.

"Oh dear, this is really troublesome. The situation is a bit different from what I expected..." Mary bit her lip. "Nianzhuo, can I ask you for a favor?"

“…Sorry.” However, Nian Zhuo’s somewhat helpless voice came through the earpiece, “I also have no way of recognizing who the figure in front of me is.”

Is it a person? A follower? Or an enemy? Nian Zhuo could not tell.

This shouldn't be happening... Logically speaking, it should be incredibly easy for Nian Zhuo, who is familiar with the plot, to recognize the identity of the person in front of him.

However... once thoughts touch upon identity, they automatically cease, as if an invisible pair of scissors were cutting off the truth that Nianzhuo was about to touch.

However, Nianzhuo had mostly guessed.

“The other party must have some skill that allows them to hide their identity or make it impossible to identify them.” Nian Zhuo stroked his chin, looking at the lightning emanating from the raised blade of the 'figure' in front of him. “Otherwise, I would have been able to guess who she is.”

Even the sounds he heard seemed mechanically synthesized, chaotic and difficult to discern.

Just when they were at their wits' end, the figure in front of them suddenly lowered the sword that was pointed at them.

"What are you two doing sneaking around again?" Raising an eyebrow, the man glanced at Mashu, who was whispering with Mary, and then waved his hand dismissively. "Since you're not attacking me, it doesn't matter." He slung the sword over his shoulder, sparks flying again, and turned to wave.

"I didn't need anything from you, so sorry to bother you." He seemed about to leave.

He had just taken a step when he seemed to remember something and turned his head back. "The fog is very thick around here. We'd better leave as soon as possible."

"Thank you for your advice." Ritsuka nodded. Not being able to identify the person made her cautious, but she still thanked them, saying, "We will do as you say."

"Huh?" Clearly, the other person hadn't expected Ritsuka to suddenly thank him. He was taken aback for a moment before turning around and waving. "Well, goodbye then."

The clanging of armor rang out again, then gradually faded into the distance, and the knight's figure disappeared into the smoke once more.

“Ah—” Mashu only came to her senses after the other person disappeared. “She’s gone… She’s swaggering into the alley to the north, heading in the direction where the fog is particularly thick.”

"Huh?" Mary was equally surprised by the other person's sudden departure, scratching her cheek. "She left while we were still discussing things? What an impatient girl! Is she from London?"

"That was called discussion...?" Mashu tilted her head, completely unable to detect any hint of discussion in the conversation.

"Ah—" Just then, Nianzhuo belatedly exclaimed, "I know!"

"What?" Mary's voice came through Nianzhuo's communication device, tinged with anticipation. "What do you know?"

"Ah... um... it's nothing." Nianzhuo realized he had suddenly made a sound, then awkwardly scratched his cheek. "It's just a trivial matter..."

Just as the other person's figure disappeared, Nian Zhuo's previously disconnected thoughts immediately returned, and he finally remembered who the figure he had met at the very beginning was.

Mordred, the rebellious knight and son of King Arthur.

"So that's how it is. Did that thing block my perception of her identity in my memory?" Now that her identity has been confirmed, information about her naturally falls into Nian Zhuo's hands.

[A helmet concealing infidelity]: C

The helmet was a gift from his mother, Morgan, along with the words "Never take it off."

It can conceal some information about Mordred. It cannot hide general information such as ability parameters and class skills, but it can completely hide important information such as her true name, Noble Phantasm, and unique skills. "Rebellion Against My Magnificent Father (Clarente Blood Arthur)" cannot be activated while in this state. The ability parameter information is only released when the helmet and armor are in the same set and the helmet is removed. That is, the ability parameter information remains hidden even when the armor is removed and no weapon is being used. When the helmet is deactivated, it splits into two parts and becomes one with the armor.

"I see, but I didn't expect it to be able to erase all my memories..." Nian Zhuo scratched his head. "This is troublesome. Even if I know her identity now, she'll disappear again the next time I see her helmet..."

“It’s alright.” Suddenly, Ryotaro spoke up, patting Momotaros who was sitting on the ground. He looked at Nianzhuo and said, “Judging from her tone, she seems to know some inside information about your incident. She should know more about the current situation in London than we do.”

"—So, let's catch up with her." After stretching his stiff neck, Ryotaro handed the decision over to Nencho.

“…Gathering intelligence is very important.” Before Nianzhuo could answer, Mary’s voice came through the earpiece, “So, go with him, Nianzhuo.”

“…I see.” After receiving Mary’s permission, Nianzhuo nodded. “Then, Ritsuka and Mashu, let’s catch up with that guy first!”

"Okay!" Ritsuka nodded and pointed to the place where the smoke was thickest. "She just walked in this direction. Let's go after her!"

“The problem is… our tracking stopped working shortly after she stepped into the fog.” Mary watched the screen flicker and disappear with growing impatience, gritting her teeth.

“It’s alright, Director Mary.” Mashu’s voice also came through. “I remember the direction she went. We’re about to move. Please keep a close watch this time!”

So, they all rushed into the smoke where Mordred's figure had just disappeared.

Their field of vision shrank again, and they found themselves in a narrow alley.

"Ugh...it smells awful." Ritsuka covered her mouth and nose, frowning. "Even though I don't feel anything, the smell is still disgusting—"

“It’s alright, Senpai.” Mashu patted Ritsuka on the back. “With me by your side, you won’t be affected by this fog.”

Click-click—

Suddenly, a jumble of noises entered Nianzhuo's ears.

"...Hmm?" Nian Zhuo frowned in confusion, listening intently. "Is it just my imagination?"

Click-click—

The familiar voice rang out again, and this time Nianzhuo was certain it wasn't his imagination.

“…What is this?” Nian Zhuo looked at Mashu, Ritsuka, and Ryotaro behind him, and covered one of his ears. “I heard some sounds.”

"A sound...?" Mashu shook her head and looked at Ritsuka, who was also somewhat puzzled. "I was taking care of Senpai's health just now, so I'm sorry I didn't hear anything."

“No, indeed.” Ryotaro nodded, his glasses reflecting light slightly in the smoke. “We all heard some sounds too.”

"Yeah, yeah." Momotaros stood up and looked around defiantly. "You've been torturing my ears ever since this started, come out here now!" He kicked the air in frustration.

Click-click—

The familiar voice rang out again, and this time even Mashu heard it clearly. It was as if every time she thought of it, the source of the voice would get a little closer to Nianzhuo and the others.

“Although I haven’t observed any life forms reacting—” Mary’s voice came through the communication device, sounding somewhat flustered, “there are reactions from multiple moving objects! As for magical reactions…” The result remained unchanged, and Mary angrily tapped the screen.

"...No, it's still shrouded in fog and I can't sense anything!"

(Click click)

The voice rang out again, and at the same time, some huge black shadows began to appear from the demonic mist in front of them.

"The sound is getting closer, very close!" Mash gripped her shield tightly and ran in front of Nianzhuo. "Mr. Nianzhuo, and senior!"

Not only that, just as Mashu ran to the front, the same movement reaction appeared behind everyone on the screen in front of Mary.

"Several moving objects are rapidly approaching!" Mary decisively ordered, "This is a hostile reaction! Break through before we're surrounded! This battle will require even more judgment and command than before—Fujimaru Ritsuka, I'm counting on you!"

"Prepare for battle!" Mash's shield glowed with magical light as she turned to Ritsuka. "Master, please give your orders!"

"...I understand!" After her initial stunned silence, Ritsuka quickly recovered and turned to look behind her, where a huge black shadow was also approaching. "Tsk, Mash, take care of the enemy in front of you first, Mr. Nianzhuo!" She looked at Nianzhuo.

"I'm counting on you from now on!" He smiled with trust.

"—Received." Nian Zhuo then turned around, but just as he was about to go to the back, an arm stopped him. "Hmm—?"

Ritsuka, who hadn't turned around, also saw it: Momotaros stood in front of Nencho, blocking his way.

"Mr. Momotaros—?" He tilted his head in confusion.

"Hmph, you guys can't get all the limelight." Momotaros turned her head and glanced at Nencho, then snorted, "Leave the rest to us, Ryotaro."

Sure enough, the four alien gods had already stood together at some point.

Ryotaro stood at the very front of them.

"Alright, Nencho." A belt appeared around his waist without him noticing, and Ryotaro opened the train ticket in his hand. "Let me show you my senior's power."

"—Understood, please take care." Nian Zhuo nodded, but still held the silver Time Driver in his hand. "Well then, I'm going to help Mashu and the others!"

Holding the silver watch face in his hand, Nencho twisted it, then placed it on the driver at his waist and flipped it over.

"Rider Time—!"

At the same time, Ryotaro turned around and exchanged knowing smiles with Momotaros.

He pressed the red button at the top of his waist belt.

"Henshin—" Momotaros's figure transformed into a red light and merged into Ryotaro's body.

Raising his right hand, Ryotaro opened his eyes again, and they were now red.

He gripped the ticket in his right hand and slid it across his belt, making a crisp sound.

"Sword Farm——"