Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

If Shirou enters the Clock Tower and focuses on magic, he will one day reach that supreme rank (Grand Rank).

Even touching upon the realm of magic...

"I haven't thought about the future yet. Right now, I'm focused on the Holy Grail War, so I can't give you an answer."

Shirou said, "However, I will keep Mr. Kenneth's invitation in mind for now."

"Hmph, you're the first person to refuse my invitation to my face."

Kenneth was very dissatisfied with Shirou's perfunctory attitude.

"Shirou, come here for a second."

As she was about to leave, Sora suddenly let go of her fiancé and called out to the red-haired boy.

"What's wrong, big sister?"

Shirou ran up to Sora.

"Thank you for tonight, Shirou-kun. This is my compensation (reward) for losing the bet to you."

As Sora spoke, she bent down, leaned forward, and kissed his cheek.

“!?!?!?”

The three people and one spirit in the room—

Kenneth, Irisviel, Saber, and Lady Avalon all changed their expressions.

"Sora!?" "Shirou!!"

Sora ignored her pale-faced fiancé behind her and focused her attention on the red-haired boy in front of her.

With a meaningful smile, she murmured softly, "Shirou, when you're a little older..."

When you come to London, remember to say hello to your sister!

I will treat you to the best of my ability, of course... without Kenneth's knowledge.

"Shirou! You really shouldn't come to the Clock Tower!"

Kenneth's roar echoed through the night.

……

……

On the way back, both Irisviel and Saber seemed sullen.

Although the silver-haired android was holding the steering wheel, she was not in the frenzied state she had been in when she arrived. She drove the sports car like an old-fashioned car, swaying leisurely on the road in the early morning.

"------"

An awkward silence filled the carriage.

To prevent the already tense atmosphere from escalating further, Shirou could only make small talk, launching into a long, drawn-out discussion about tonight's battle.

Irisviel glanced at the red-haired boy through the rearview mirror.

"Shirou must be very happy to have been kissed on the cheek by a beautiful married woman, otherwise why would he be so talkative tonight?"

Shirou was speechless: Who do you think I was trying to appease by saying all this?

He suddenly felt a gaze upon him.

"What's wrong, Saber? Why are you staring so intently at my face?"

"……nothing."

Saber turned her head to look out the window, lost in thought.

……

……

The boundary between Shinto and Fukayama-cho is the Mien River.

Above the Fuyuki Bridge, which spans the river and connects to the land.

The "assassin" calmly adjusted his breathing, blending himself into the environment and focusing his consciousness on the scattered traffic below.

This is the only way to return to Fukayama Town from Shinto, and it is also the area with the most open view.

If the goal is to assassinate Saber's Master, Irisviel, this is the perfect choice.

Once that woman is killed, this "job" will be considered done.

I thought it would be a very easy "job", but unexpected situations kept happening.

These past few nights, the "assassin" had been looking for an opportunity to strike, but a suitable moment had not yet arrived.

The reason lies with the red-haired boy next to Irisviel.

The assassin's intuition told him that the assassination could not succeed as long as the red-haired boy was present.

Every time the assassin puts his finger on the trigger, he imagines a red-haired boy suddenly drawing his sword and deflecting the bullet with a single strike.

To truly kill Irisviel, one must first bypass the red-haired boy, or perhaps—

Make your move when he is unable to observe his surroundings.

For example, inside a closed train carriage.

So, the "assassin" planned to make his move when Irisviel and the red-haired boy were driving back.

Even if that red-haired boy was very perceptive, he couldn't possibly stay in a car to defend against attacks from the outside, could he?

Therefore, the "assassin" lurked on the bridge, quietly waiting for the right moment.

Soon, a very conspicuous silver sports car appeared on the Fuyuki Bridge.

After confirming that it was indeed Einzbern's vehicle, the "Assassin" dispelled its spirit form at the top of the bridge.

Under the dim starlight, a hooded man dressed in black appeared.

He raised the sniper rifle, which was almost as long as his arm, and assumed the most suitable sniping posture.

He fixed the scope's crosshair to the driver's seat of the sports car, and the moment the silver-haired woman's face was aimed at him, his finger touched the trigger.

The ominous premonition did not come true; the "assassin" was certain that he could take Irisviel's life with a single shot.

It can kill...!

The assassin was about to pull the trigger when, at that very moment, a magic-infused dagger flew toward the back of his head.

"!!"

It was a weapon that seemed to have been projected from the void.

If the "assassin" hadn't been accustomed to fighting and killing alone in his lifetime, thus developing the habit of still paying attention to his surroundings while aiming at his target—

He probably wouldn't even realize it until the dagger pierced his head.

Although the other party had suppressed their presence to the lowest possible level, the "assassin" still sensed the subtle vibrations in the air and the magical reaction in the silence.

He realized that while he was targeting others, he had become someone else's target.

The assassin suddenly turned around and used his dagger to deflect the dagger aimed at him.

Then he saw the woman in black robes emerge from the darkness.

Just as Shirou predicted, you were indeed lying in ambush here.

Hassan the Hundred-Faced stood on the bridge, a sly smile appearing beneath his skull mask.

The assassin remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was greatly shocked.

We've been discovered... no, we've been ambushed!

My actions tonight were discovered beforehand!

This is unprecedented for an "assassin." Who is this person named "Shirou"?

The answer was self-evident—it was one of the red-haired boys sitting in the sports car he had just targeted.

"Thank you for taking care of me at the dock. How should I address you, Mr. Assassin?"

The woman in black robes and purple hair, though an Assassin herself, exuded a confident aura like a warrior as she approached the "assassin."

Then, very quickly, the "assassin" learned the source of the woman's confidence—

Hassan waved his arm, raised his robe, and pulled out something long and thin from it.

It was a sword that shone brightly under the starlight and was imbued with magic.

How can this be! ?

The "assassin" stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

It's impossible to be mistaken.

The sword that appeared in Hassan the Hundred-Faced was a Noble Phantasm.

An overwhelming chill enveloped the "assassins".

why?

How could it be a "sword"?

He had never heard of an old man in the mountains who was known for his swordsmanship in the history of the Assassination Order.

Furthermore, according to the "Assassin's" speculation, the ability (Noble Phantasm) possessed by Assassin in this Holy Grail War should be some kind of clone mechanism.

The Assassin doesn't believe that the proud Golden Archer would lend his treasures to others.

But the facts were right before their eyes: the purple-haired woman drew a sword-shaped Noble Phantasm that didn't suit her image.

Before he could even think of a reason, Assassin swung his sword at him.

The assassin had no choice but to throw his beloved gun to parry in desperation.

The sniper rifle was cut in two by the longsword, leaving a clean and perfect cut.

Even though Hassan the Hundred Faces has no martial arts skills, her strength and agility as a Heroic Spirit, combined with the sharpness of her Noble Phantasm, are enough to cause considerable damage.

The Assassin jumped backward to avoid Hassan the Hundred-Faced.

However, the moment he landed, he sensed a new presence.

A giant man clad in a black robe emerged from the darkness behind the "assassin".

Standing over 240cm tall, with a body like a small mountain, the man with the strange arm, Gozir, waited patiently, raising his broadsword.

“Guwu…!”

The assassin quickly dodged, narrowly avoiding the powerful slash at the last second.

"Shh-"

The red steel frame of the Fuyuki Bridge was sliced ​​through by the greatsword as if it were butter.

Although Gozir the Brawler is far slower than Hassan the Hundred-Faced, and his sword-wielding movements lack any skill, his strength might be comparable to Saber's when she unleashes her magic.

In other words, the power of that slash alone was enough to cut the bridge in two.

impossible……

A new Hassan, plus a new Noble Phantasm.

The assassin gasped; this was a situation he had never anticipated.

However, his extensive experience allowed him to quickly regain his composure: his priority was to eliminate the slow-moving but extremely threatening giant, Hassan.

Thinking of this, the "Assassin" growled out the incantation to activate the spell.

"Time alter - double acceleration!"

Magic surged through his body like a flash of electricity, and the "Assassin's" aura suddenly changed.

Hassan rushed over from the side and attacked him again, but the "assassin" suddenly reacted with a speed far exceeding that of before, dodging the dagger and then kicking her away.

After defeating Hassan the Hundred-Faced, the "Assassin" did not stop there, but instead pounced on the slow-moving Gozir.

He leaped up, revealing his blade.

We succeeded!

The "assassin" fell from the sky, thrusting his dagger toward the skull of the giant Hassan.