This was exactly the situation of the two sides of the brain clashing against each other.
Shirou even suspected that her summoning Ryuuma carried ulterior motives.
"ROAR!"
The demon dragon began to bellow, spewing scorching flames.
"Move away, Lord Shirou!"
Hundred-Faced Hassan darted aside.
Xuanzang Sanzang, seeing this, hurriedly cried out with a sobbing tone, "Don't leave me behind, I'll definitely be eaten, wuwuwu…"
"I…", Hundred-Faced Hassan actually wanted to say, 'You, a Servant whose rank looks higher than mine, can't you run on your own?'
Shirou, however, was far more straightforward and crude.
He simply grabbed the other by the collar and threw her out.
"Uwaaaahhh!"
Xuanzang Sanzang let out a shriek in midair.
"Assassin, keep an eye on that one!"
Without waiting for Hundred-Faced Hassan's reply, the pseudo-neural framework was completed.
Mana followed the magical circuits, linking with the palm through incantation.
"Projection, start!"
The final step was complete.
Several Noble Phantasms appeared.
They were released at the same time.
Clang! Clang! Crash!
Countless metallic collisions rang out, falling down.
Not leaving a single mark on the demon dragon, whose crimson, heat-rippling scales shone brilliantly under the sunlight.
Shirou raised an eyebrow at the sight.
'Low-grade Noble Phantasms can't pierce its defense?'
'Fine, but I, actually saw disdain on this dragon's face.'
'How dare it?'
Whoosh!
BOOM!
The demon dragon spread its wings, raising countless clouds of sand and dust as it roared.
A blast of breath followed.
Shirou leapt from his spot, twisting and dodging in midair, arriving right in front of the giant dragon.
The dragon flapped its wings, stirring up a powerful gale, intending to swat away the ant that dared to stand before it.
Shirou projected the holy sword Durandal, infused it with mana, and slashed into the flowing air.
"ROAR!"
The strike that tore through the air landed on the dragon's body.
This time, the tough scales met no resistance, splitting like tofu.
In an instant, a sharp wail accompanied the flow of fresh blood, streaming like a small river into the rolling dust.
Thud!
As the second slash swept across its neck, half the dragon's body crashed to the ground.
Buried beneath the desert sands.
"Ugh!"
Xuanzang Sanzang sobbed.
Hundred-Faced Hassan carried her over, eyes unable to conceal her shock.
'That monster, taken down in only two strikes?'
'Is he still human?'
'Even the legendary dragon-slaying heroes couldn't have done it so easily, right?'
"Lord Shirou!"
Before Hundred-Faced Hassan could speak, Xuanzang Sanzang gratefully declared, "Thank you, benefactor. My name is Xuanzang Sanzang, a Servant manifested here under the guidance of the Buddha. My class is Caster."
Then she gave an embarrassed laugh, "That dragon should be the demon dragon that brought suffering to the region of France. I told him that because of a failed summoning he had been sent here, but I didn't expect him to say he wouldn't return and then suddenly attack me…"
"..."
"Wait!"
Xuanzang Sanzang exclaimed in shock, "You're leaving already?"
That's right, Shirou was already mounting his Emperor Steed, intending to ride off.
'Why stay here otherwise?'
His Emperor Steed couldn't carry two people anyway.
"Don't be so cold, benefactor!"
Xuanzang Sanzang blocked Shirou's path with a smile, "I was summoned half a year ago to a place here. Following the guidance, I journeyed along the Silk Road to arrive here, to stop this unprecedented crisis that is coming."
"As a Heroic Spirit right now, I am the me who was on the return journey from India. Although it is troublesome, because of the Buddha, I had no choice but to come…"
"Wait! Please wait!"
Xuanzang Sanzang shouted, "Don't be so cold, okay? Please let me make it short."
At this, Shirou, who had already risen into the air, finally stopped.
But not because of her words, rather—
"The answer you seek is in the village to the west. Go straight from here, and at a Servant's pace, it only takes a day to reach."
"But, I still have a disciple… Touta was captured by the Knights of the Round Table in the wilderness. As a master, I cannot abandon my disciple."
That was what Xuanzang Sanzang said.
Her words were smooth, not at all surprised that Shirou seemed to know her circumstances, or that she was seeking answers.
It wasn't that she wasn't curious, she simply thought being broad-minded, not overthinking… was the way to true enlightenment.
"The Touta you mentioned, is he also a Servant?"
It was Hundred-Faced Hassan who asked.
Hearing Shirou intended to send this one west to the village, she began to think.
The more strength to oppose the Lion King, the better. Especially if the other was also a Servant.
Though she looked unreliable, truth be told, they didn't have much solid fighting power either.
"That's right," Xuanzang Sanzang said devoutly,
"Under the guidance of the Buddha, Touta became my temporary disciple here, tasked with protecting my safety. A few days ago, due to some reason, he was captured by the Knights of the Round Table and imprisoned in a fortress in the wilderness. I was just about to rescue him."
"What a coincidence?"
Hundred-Faced Hassan hadn't expected such favorable circumstances, but before speaking, she glanced at Shirou.
The latter said, "That's your matter. I only handle rescuing people."
"Many thanks for your understanding, Lord Shirou."
Hundred-Faced Hassan respectfully said to him, then turned to Xuanzang Sanzang, "Caster, is it? We also plan to raid the fortress in the wilderness to rescue a companion. We can rescue your… disciple along the way. But in return, you must join our mountain people, as rebels against the Lion King."
"This…", Xuanzang Sanzang didn't answer immediately, instead said, "Allow me to consider it. But since we share the same goal of rescuing, I believe we can move together for now. How about it?"
"I'm afraid not."
Hundred-Faced Hassan said, "You saw yourself, our way of travel. Bringing you along would waste too much time."
Traveling to the Round Table fortress on foot would take at least two days.
Given they had already covered half the journey, if they brought Xuanzang Sanzang along, it would delay them by a day, and even the return trip would be affected.
Logically speaking, if they did bring Xuanzang Sanzang, Shirou's Emperor Steed could carry her.
But he really preferred to move alone, and had no reason to get involved with Xuanzang Sanzang.
That was why he was so cold.
"Is that so?"
Xuanzang Sanzang's gaze swept between Shirou and Hundred-Faced Hassan for a few seconds, a thoughtful glint flashing in her eyes, then she smiled, "This humble one believes that squeezing in a little isn't impossible."
"..."
In the end, Shirou didn't bring Xuanzang Sanzang. Instead, he had her head west to the village and meet Fujimaru Ritsuka.
No special reason, just that it was bothersome.
Leaving it to Fujimaru Ritsuka was better. After all, she was the Crown Succubus.
And Roman would also welcome another Servant joining them.
As for Shirou, right now, he only wanted to find the Knights of the Round Table and take them down one by one.
If not for the possibility that Agravain might appear here, he wouldn't have agreed to the rescue at all.
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