[Fate] Falling Sun

The black-haired boy who visited again the next day brought the latest information on the battlefield.

"That is to say—except for the annihilation of Caster, the other masters and slaves have temporarily abided by the armistice agreement, right?" Mio also received relevant guidelines for this battle from Tosaka Tokiomi. In short, the general idea is not to follow Other masters and slaves just pinch each other.Speaking of which, the communication methods of magicians really frightened her. Suddenly a flying pigeon talks to you or something. Even if you have ten hearts, it’s not enough to scare you. Why not just use ordinary mobile phone text messages?

Mio didn't realize that most magicians are technological idiots, and she is proud of her own magic, so she naturally thinks that she doesn't need the assistance of science, and believes that technology is born for the convenience of ordinary people.This kind of concept is as out of date as the stubbornness held by some older generations.

"If Caster can be successfully attacked, the battle situation after that will be unpredictable again." Ritsu's fingers tapped on the table lightly, as if thinking about something. "In addition, according to the previous battle information, Rider seems to be looking for allies everywhere. His real name is Iskandar──Alexander III, known as the "Conqueror King" in the world." Probably because the character of this heroic spirit is too strong Hao Mai, when he persuaded Saber to become his subordinate, he declared his name, and thus became known to Assassin, who was scouting intelligence.

"There is also Caster, according to the process and conversation between him and Saber in the previous battle - he is Joan of Arc's comrade-in-arms Marshal Gilderles, who was notorious for killing a large number of young children during his lifetime, and for everything he did in Fuyuki City It does seem to be the case.”

"But that Saber... doesn't seem to be Joan herself. It seems that the invisible weapon in her hand may be an important clue to hide her identity. Also, your ally Archer is the King of Uruk, Gilgamesh. It’s also something I didn’t know until I first met you.”

"Speaking of which, we still don't know who the servants of both sides are?" Ritsu looked at Mio with a questioning look after finishing the information.

The advantage of twins is that what the other is thinking can be easily interpreted.

"Lancer is──In the Indian epic "Mahabharata", the hero known as Karna." Mio said after glancing at Lancer at the side.

"So it's that Son of the Sun God... It's just as I thought, a very powerful Servant." Ritsu had such an expression on his face, and then he waved his hand to Assassin beside him. "Assassin is not a Heroic Spirit, but an "Agent"──The real name is Emiya. According to me, I have given up this name, but you probably don't know who it is." Being an Assassin is quite an inherent advantage, even if you know the real name. It doesn't matter, because most of the agents are nameless heroes, repeating countless killings and traveling through time and space, in order to prevent the tasks assigned by the force.

"Emiya... Please teach me more in the future, Assassin!" Mio smiled friendly, while Assassin, who was still covering his face, just lowered his eyes slightly to show that he heard.

"Okay, actually I have a tactic, Mio, would you like to hear it?" After confirming their identities, Ritsu's mysterious smile caught Mio's attention.

"What is it?"

"Although you might not be able to accept it at first──Hey, shall we exchange Servants?"

As a true magician, if Ritsuki uses a Servant with a strong attack surface, it will be more effective; and having Assassin, who is good at concealing aura, by Mio's side can not only protect her secretly, but also hide her. It is also a fact of the Master.

In any case, the benefits brought by exchanging servants are much higher than the original ones.

"You mean...to re-sign the contract?" After listening to Ritsu's arguments, although she had to admire her brother's excellent tactical brain, the girl's current mood seemed like a tangled ball of wool.

"That's right, it's..." Before Ritsu finished speaking, he was interrupted by a third person's voice.

"This agreement is meaningless, because I will not agree." The white-haired young man who had been silently listening to the conversation between the two interrupted the meeting of the masters. "I will not sever the contract with Mio." Karna's firm tone made the two Masters present dumbfounded, as if they did not expect that Lancer, who was always uncompromising, would have a rebellious period at this moment.

"Lancer, don't you think you should respect your Master? This kind of matter should be left to Mio to judge, don't forget that she still has Command Seals in her hand—at least three full." Ritsu He said in a deep voice, because he was worried that his sister would be taken away, so he deliberately reminded that there was a trump card to restrain the followers.

"It's two different things." Karna's thoughts were also quite clear, and he was not overwhelmed by Ritsu's aura at all. "If you want to use the command spell, please do it──Even if the end waiting for me is to be destroyed, I will never do it except to break the contract. My allegiance from the beginning is only Mio." The hero of Shi Yu still insisted He followed his own principles, just as he knew clearly that the Julu tribe he was in would go to the side of destruction, but he still carried out his beliefs until the last moment.

Only for the invaluable kindness of knowledge and encounter.

The black-haired girl was moved when she heard those words. "You -- stop first." She finally found a space to interject. "Since Lancer is unwilling, I don't intend to force it." Mio pushed the black-rimmed glasses she only wore at home, looking a little more intellectual. "However, you can still try the tactics you mentioned."

"What do you mean...?" At the same time, he comforted his servants and his younger brother. In addition to thinking about his sister's skillful communication skills, Ritsu also wondered what she was going to do.

"Isn't it enough to deceive everyone on the surface?" Mio blinked mischievously, and Ritsu could immediately understand what she was thinking.

"That's right, although it's a bit troublesome, it's not impossible." Ritsu took out a small pack of paper bags from his pocket, took out two miniature earrings, and handed one of them to Mio.

"This is...?" After the girl took the earring, her azure blue pupils were full of doubts.

"It just looks like an ordinary earring, right?" Ritsu's lips slightly raised in complacency. "This is a Bluetooth device for communication, and the distance can be as far as one kilometer. Although it consumes a little power is a disadvantage, but this thing can also be charged by solar energy, which can be regarded as a fly in the ointment."

"In that case...!" Mio tried it on right away.

"The stand-in messenger will be perfect for fighting!" Ritsu also put it on and said with a serious face.

"...Wait, what is a stand-in messenger──So Ritsu's sneer crafting skills have improved again!?" Mio patted the table, seeming to be amused by her younger brother.

"I've wanted to name it for a long time, you know! As expected of my sister──"

There was a chilly silence surrounding the two servants at the side.

"Then in the battle to siege Caster, I will have to trouble your Lancer. Instead, Assassin will protect you by your side." Ritsu coughed lightly, reminding Mio not to laugh so loudly.

"I see." The black-haired girl stroking the earring on one side nodded cautiously.

After a few brief discussions, Ritsu left.

"──Lancer." When the girl was clearing the table, she suddenly stopped Karna. "To be honest, I was surprised just now. I didn't expect you to insist on not changing the master." The blue eyes stared at each other, as if wanting to impress the figure of the white-haired youth deeply in his heart.

"Why, are you going to change your mind?" It was a rare moment when he couldn't see through the girl's mind, maybe she didn't think about anything.

"Aren't you worried that I really use Command Seals?" Mio asked tentatively.

"As I said just now──Even if I use the Command Seal, it's just like tripping over a stone for me, and I can't cancel the contract." Regardless of the fact that the golden armor you own can increase your resistance to magic, The strong willpower buried in the body of the white-haired young man can even hold on to his dying vitality, which is comparable to the continuation of the battle.With such a tenacious will, how did the mere Command Spell get this hero of giving?

"Although I told you before that I will obey as long as it is your expectation, but the only thing I can't do is to break the contract. Moreover, instead of wasting Command Seals on such meaningless places, it is better to use them at key points. Always call me to your side to protect you." The white-haired young man lowered his head slightly, staring at her with two-color pupils.

"........." Being stared at by the other party, Mio felt that she was about to fall into the tenderness of those beautiful pupils. But it brings a very solid sense of security. "I... I thought it might be a better choice for you to follow Ritsu." She looked away in a bit of embarrassment to conceal the sudden constriction of her heart just now.

"Why?" Karna turned his head slightly puzzled.

Mio did not forget the look on his face when he confronted Arjuna in the dream. "You used to be a general and a hero. I think it's the best way to use you to show off your excellent martial arts on the battlefield." It would be a waste of his talent to just follow her and hide around.It's better to let Li give full play to Lancer's value.

"Is that so... I see." The white-haired young man lowered his eyes. "I can accept it intellectually, but I can't accept it emotionally. Mio, I don't intend to take back what I just said." The hero Shi Yu clearly expressed his own limit. "Fighting together is fine, but exchanging contracts is out of the question."

"Pfft... Lancer is surprisingly stubborn." Mio smiled angrily.

"There are some things that cannot be discarded, like principles." Then Karna raised his brows slightly, closed his eyes, folded his arms around his chest, and seemed to be thinking about something.

──Do you want to ask?or not to ask?

──Is it really necessary to ask?

At this moment, the white-haired youth rarely fell into the swamp of hesitation.

If it was in the past, he definitely wouldn't be so bewildered by such things and keep silent.

"What's the matter, Lancer?" The black-haired girl noticed that he was showing distress, and the look of hesitating to speak made people very concerned.

"... Mio, do you really want to break the contract with me?" His deep voice touched the air, and the quiet environment around him made his voice quite clear, and that tone seemed to contain imperceptible depression. "After all, it was my unilateral insistence just now, and I didn't ask your real wishes." Although he could easily see through the other party's mind, he couldn't tell the girl from her blue eyes full of pity for others. Full of the true meaning in all kinds of temptation words.Then, I am afraid that the other party is in a state of vacillation.

That also meant that Mio once thought about breaking the contract with her.

After listening to Shi Yu's hero's troubles, the black-haired girl showed a bitter smile.

"Well, it's the same as you---I can accept Ritsu's proposal intellectually, but I can't emotionally." She said it honestly. "Lancer, I will trouble you to continue to take care of this weak me in the future." The girl shyly raised her fingers and brushed the strands of hair that fell down her cheeks. "Although I don't know if you still remember the oath when you summoned... If this body is still alive after the Holy Grail War, within the scope of my ability, I can fulfill one of your wishes."

"Mio, I don't have any—"

"It doesn't matter if you can't think of it now." The girl pressed her slender jade fingers to the thin lips of the other party who hadn't finished speaking. "I hope to be able to repay this kindness... Karna, the hero who gave you, you were always cursed unreasonably for your efforts in life." Her blue eyes were as clear as glass. "And this time, please let my oath be your reasonable reward."

At this moment, like Amane Mio's name──

On Karna's untouched heartstrings, the first syllable was played.

***

Among the rapidly spraying residual clouds and mist, two military fighter jets were sailing in the direction of Jiuyuan River.

"What do you think it could be? A monster?"

"Who knows, if it really existed, we would probably be like a bento character in the Kamen Rider TV series."

"Hey, don't say that, it's really unlucky."

As the route progressed, what the naked eye could see was a huge and thick fog covering the entire bridge. No matter how you looked at it, it was an unusually strange scene.

"That, what is it──!"

The garden of the gods is about to be dyed with the most gorgeous colors.