The meeting place was the same conference room as yesterday. Fiore's complexion looked far better than it had then—yesterday, with so many incidents and so much exhaustion, her face had been pale.
This time, she had gathered everyone again for important discussion…
"So… what does Fiore want with us?"
Gordes, seated on a wooden chair with arms folded, looked at the girl in the wheelchair at the head of the table.
"Caules, do you know?"
He turned to her younger brother.
"No… I don't. Sister hasn't said anything."
In truth, since the Holy Grail War began, he and Fiore hadn't shared many ordinary words at all. It was all business. The one closest to her now was likely Saber, standing quietly by the wall.
"Is it about the planes? Have we got them?"
Hearing his eager tone, Fiore shook her head regretfully.
"No… things aren't that simple. Though the funds are sufficient, transport will still take time. The planes… please give me a little longer. They should arrive within three days."
She bowed her head slightly, her hands resting together.
"Hah? Three days?"
"By then it'll all be over!"
Rider complained.
"Then should we ride your bald eagle?"
Gordes cast him a sideways glance.
"No way, no way… That's impossible."
Rider waved his hands in embarrassment.
"Then shut up!!"
Gordes barked at him.
"Ugh… Why are you always yelling at me…"
Rider scratched his head in frustration.
"…Rider, your interpersonal skills are rather poor."
Even Jeanne could not resist pointing it out.
"In that case, if it's not about the planes… then what is it, Miss Fiore?"
Jeanne turned the topic back to the girl.
"It's about Black's Assassin…"
Fiore spread the newspaper she had been reading that morning across the table so everyone could see the print and photos.
"To be honest, it's shameful… But ever since being summoned, Black's Assassin has been unrestrained. Her Master seems to indulge her, letting her kill without end."
She explained everything clearly, including the events from a few days ago when she and the Shogun had attempted to subdue Assassin.
"I struck her down, but she escaped. I thought that would quiet her for a time… but instead she has grown even more rampant."
The Shogun interjected at the right moment, and the others nodded before looking again to Fiore.
"So… now she is a great threat."
Fiore picked up smoothly from the Shogun's words.
"Oh~! That really is shameful~"
Whether he meant to add insult or simply agreed, Rider's grinning remark made everyone want to hit him. But for now, they let it pass.
"So Assassin stands in chaos then? Out of control."
Jeanne concluded.
All eyes fell upon the blurred photos of corpses in the paper… Jack the Ripper—Assassin's true name.
"Yes… At present, Assassin has been ceaselessly attacking our clan members in Trifas and Sighișoara, killing dozens already. Likely due to her Master's influence."
"In other words… you want us to hunt Black's Assassin?"
Jeanne immediately grasped Fiore's intent. With the war reaching its height, they could not afford an unstable element.
"That's right. At first I thought only of sending the Shogun… but, to be safe, I decided to inform all of you. The more strength we bring, the greater our chances."
Of course, she had already discussed this proposal privately with the Shogun. Fiore would never decide without her. Their mutual trust was strong—their compatibility remarkable.
As for the Shogun herself, she had no interest in playing the lone hero. If a steadier method was possible, she would choose it.
"Just in time! I've got something as well…"
Caules pulled a set of documents from the computer, printed and laid them on the table.
"These are the locations of magi who've gone missing. We may find something there, but time is short—we must hurry."
"No problem… After all, S… Saber has already fought her before…"
Rider stammered, clearly nervous before the Shogun, even faltering when saying her class.
"…Eh?"
Fiore seemed to sense something was off. She touched her forehead, pondering deeply, then looked somewhat confused.
"What is it, Sister?"
Caules asked.
"Shogun… do you remember what Assassin looks like?"
Fiore immediately turned to her.
"Her appearance? I recall it well. Why ask?"
Her gaze was sharp; her memory flawless.
"Strange… Why don't I remember?"
Fiore lowered her head, puzzled.
"Could it be some innate skill that erases her enemy's memory of her face?"
As Ruler, Jeanne stroked her chin thoughtfully.
"But why can Saber remember?"
"Well… perhaps Saber's abilities are simply stronger in that regard."
Meanwhile, the Shogun pulled a sheet of white paper close, grasped a pen, and began sketching. In less than a minute, she held it up for all to see.
"This is her face."
"!" ×N
Everyone gasped in shock.
On the paper was a likeness so vivid it could have been a photograph. Every detail of Assassin's appearance had been perfectly reproduced, as if copied directly.
"A-amazing, Saber!"
"Eh? Superhuman?"
"You remembered just from one glance?!"
The Shogun sighed, clearly exasperated.
"This vessel merely gave you a reliable reference. Do not speak needless words."
She frowned, warning them sharply, her patience thinning.
"Ah… Understood! ×N"
"Then it's settled—we'll search based on this drawing. No time to waste. Let's set out now!"
Rider volunteered eagerly, as though going on vacation.
"However… we should go in plain clothes, to avoid drawing attention."
Caules instructed the Servants.
"I have no problem with that…"
Jeanne nodded. She could simply switch into Leticia's uniform.
"Ah! I want new clothes too! Something stylish, flashy!"
Astolfo waved his arm happily, shouting with glee.
"Rider… we're not going to play."
Fiore's tone turned cold, her eyes narrowing in rebuke. Was this really a Servant? Perhaps he'd been beaten to death once already for being too annoying.
As for the Shogun…
"This vessel has no need of changing attire…"
She had no intention of wearing modern clothing. First, it did not suit her; second, it was embarrassing.
"Shogun…"
"Do not speak of it. This vessel will not change, absolutely not."
"Mm… Alright."
Fiore had no choice but to yield. The Shogun was like a stubborn child in this matter—if she did not wish to change, then so be it.
...
Trifas lay right beside the major Romanian city of Sighișoara: blue skies, clean stone-paved streets, houses with old-world character, and churches symbolizing sanctity.
Yet despite the fierce battles of recent days, neither Sighișoara nor Trifas' own residents seemed to notice any strangeness. Life went on as usual. Even the buildings that had been destroyed were only briefly mentioned in the newspapers, explained away as accidents. Perhaps this was the so-called "secrecy of magecraft."
Most magi in the town were connected in some way to the Yggdmillennia clan. But they had yet to learn of Darnic's downfall. Fiore had deliberately kept it hidden. Still, sooner or later, word would spread—possibly even reaching the Mage's Association. By then, however, the Holy Grail War would likely be over.
"Carl Rexam. He's the next one, right?"
Caules muttered as he looked at the photo in his hand.
They had split into two groups for the search. One group, including the Shogun, had Caules and Chiron. The other, with Jeanne, included Astolfo. The division ensured that each group had a main fighter in case they encountered Assassin.
The Rexam home was an old, simple cube-shaped building—living room, kitchen, bath, and bedroom split between two floors, with an old basement under the stairs.
"Excuse us…"
Caules stepped inside, his voice polite.
The Shogun, on the other hand, said nothing, striding in without hesitation. She hadn't changed her clothes, still in her pale-violet gentian short kimono. By contrast, both Caules and Chiron wore proper suits.
The house was silent… There were traces of life, but old ones. Dust covered the floors.
They wandered through the rooms, but saw no one—not even a corpse.
"Strange… Where is he?"
Caules scratched his head.
The Shogun's eyes swept the surroundings, finally settling on the basement door. She stepped over, grasped the handle, and turned it.
Clack… clack…
Locked.
[The stench of death is heavy inside…]
Ei's voice in her mind. The Shogun nodded slightly.
"A basement, then… Can you open it, Saber?"
Caules and Chiron approached the sealed door.
"It is locked."
She answered simply.
"Wait… I've got a master key."
Caules rummaged in his pockets. Fiore had given him one before they left, a key that could pick any lock. But… huh? Where had he put it?
The Shogun wasted no time. She raised her leg, placing her toes against the iron door—
Next instant!
BOOM!!
The iron door tore off its hinges, hurled down into the basement with a crash, raising clouds of dust.
"..." ×2
Behind her, the two froze, speechless.
"This is the master key."
The Shogun offered the brief explanation before stepping inside, leaving the two stunned in her wake.
The first sensation upon entering the basement was the thick stench of blood. The reek of days-old slaughter. It was nauseating, but the Shogun didn't so much as flinch. Caules, however, covered his nose.
"Cough… Too much dust."
And more than just dust.
The source of the smell lay bound to a chair—a man in a brown suit, bled dry.
The Shogun tilted her head at the sight.
His body was drenched in blood. His chest had been gouged open, hollow inside. Blades protruded from his body like a pincushion, never removed. His mouth twisted in a rictus, eyes wide, blood vessels bursting red—clearly, his death had been agony.
Caules crouched before the corpse, examining the marks. He placed several watches on the ground before him.
"What is that for?"
The Shogun asked in puzzlement.
"Ah… These are tools to prepare a spell. They'll play back lingering thoughts, and I'll channel them into myself to recover the victim's memories."
He explained.
"So… you'll experience all the pain he suffered?"
The Shogun narrowed her eyes.
"Mm… For now, this is the fastest way. I'll just have to endure it."
Step, step…
"Yaho! We're here!"
A loud, boisterous voice suddenly broke the silence. Rider, clad in his gaudy women's outfit, and Jeanne descended into the basement.
"Whoa… what happened to the door?"
Rider asked in surprise.
…No one bothered to answer him.
"This too? How cruel."
Earlier, Caules had notified them to meet here. Jeanne had also investigated several victims already, all with the same fate.
"With this, all eight have been checked. Regardless of the process, all of them had their hearts torn out."
Caules replied.
"The same here."
"This is Assassin's work without a doubt. But one thing remains unclear…"
Chiron stroked his chin, pondering.
"Because to her, hearts are necessary crystallizations of magical energy."
Caules stood, frowning as he examined the mutilated corpse.
"If that's the case… then what about these torture marks?"
The Shogun pointed at the wounds caused by various implements still embedded in the body. If her aim was only to take the heart, then what purpose did these torments serve? Clearly, they were interrogations, meant to force some information.
"Strange… not all of ours had been tortured."
Jeanne answered doubtfully.
"That's exactly the problem. Why?"
The Shogun asked again.
"Uh… Could Assassin be interested in people's fear before death?"
Jeanne suggested uncertainly.
"If that were true… then all of them should have been treated the same. But you said some were killed directly."
The Shogun rejected the idea.
"Mm… Saber is right."
Caules agreed.
"Then… maybe she ran out of time?"
Rider guessed.
"No… We are the side at a clear disadvantage. She should have had more than enough freedom."
Chiron shook his head, dismissing Rider's thought.
"Haa… Then I'll have to use this after all."
Caules sighed, dragging a wooden chair opposite the corpse and sitting down. Rolling up his sleeve, he prepared for the next step: the spell he had explained earlier, to replay lingering thoughts.
"Isn't it dangerous?"
Jeanne asked, worried.
"At this point, it's the only way. I just hope I can withstand it."
Caules smiled faintly, strapped one of the watches from the floor onto his wrist, then closed his eyes and began the ritual.