Note: This Chapter is Re-Translated on 6 / 15 / 2025
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Chapter 8: The Knight King Who Doesn't Understand Love
Despite showing a side so guileless that Shinji started suspecting he was secretly cunning, Herc still remained Shinji's favorite Servant actor.
Honestly, how could he not be? Big, black, and built like a mountain—but more obedient than a puppy.
Compared to the nightmare that was filming at the Emiya residence, the shoot at the Einzbern Castle set, despite being deep in a mountain forest with awful transportation, had gone remarkably smoothly.
Why? Because after a painful period of chaos and confusion, Shinji's rookie film crew had finally adapted to the pace and procedures of moviemaking.
They were no longer headless chickens. They had rhythm now. A growing sense of trust and teamwork.
The crew had started to click.
Sure, they still hit snags—issues with props, set design, lighting... you name it. But none of it compared to the hell they went through at the start.
More importantly, Shinji, the man who had only theory and zero real experience, was improving fast.
He was still very much a beginner, but now he at least gave off a whiff of a proper director. Like a student who had learned not to glue their fingers together.
But if the Einzbern shoot had been smooth sailing, everything after it was a storm.
Once the castle scenes wrapped, the Fate/Stay Night crew split into two.
A small team led by the cinematographer headed to various locations in Fuyuki City for exterior shots.
The rest—actors and main crew—followed Shinji into the studio to begin soundstage filming.
This wasn't really a choice for Shinji. He had to do it.
Aside from the Emiya Residence and Einzbern Castle, all other major movie locations were public places.
Sure, they could try renting a school for scenes, but there was no point.
Why bother when the real deal would still need to be recreated in a studio for the big Saber vs. Rider fight anyway?
What, were they supposed to let Arturia and Medusa actually demolish a school?
Shinji did fantasize about blowing up his school once, back in the day... but he'd long since graduated. He was a grown-up now.
A director! A visionary! He had a responsibility!
'Also, the insurance would be a nightmare.'
As for the poor high schoolers of Homurahara who were now denied their chance at a surprise school holiday because the crew wasn't filming there?
Tough luck.
"Students should study," Shinji said firmly. "Not daydreaming about free time."
Besides, filming was at night. Student cast members just had to juggle school during the day and acting after hours.
The real problem wasn't scheduling, or coordination, or even logistics.
No. The problem was the actors.
Even though Shinji had greatly lowered his expectations by now, there were still a lot of bumps.
The biggest of them all?
Arturia.
Their leading lady. Their star.
As the story progressed, her performance was drifting further and further away from her in-story counterpart.
By the time the Fate route hits its later chapters, Saber isn't just the cool, stoic King of Knights anymore.
She's a girl in love.
But Arturia… had absolutely no idea how to play that kind of role.
Because, frankly speaking?
She had never fallen in love. Not once. Not in her life.
Like a certain man named Twilight from the Spy x Family series, she'd married the nation instead.
So now she was supposed to act like a blushing maiden in love—and it was way, way beyond her emotional reach.
To her credit, Arturia tried. She really did.
Under Shinji's direction, she made every effort to understand what it meant to feel that way. She tried to mirror the emotions of a woman swept up by love.
But no matter what she did, it never quite landed.
The result wasn't bad—just off.
Her "maiden in love" looked more like a strict student council president pretending to act cute.
It did have its own charm, to be fair. Like seeing a lion awkwardly try to meow like a kitten.
It's kind of adorable in its own way.
But as the director, Shinji knew this wasn't the vibe he needed.
"Cut! No good, no good."
In the studio, Shinji held up the mic and called the scene off with a frustrated sigh. Then he turned to the cameraman and lighting chief and snapped his fingers.
"You two, come over. We need to workshop this."
Hearing Shinji call for a cut, both Rin and Arturia sprang apart from the bed like startled cats, instantly putting distance between them.
At the moment, Shinji was shooting the scene where Shirou and the others escape from the Einzbern Castle, and Shirou replenishes Saber's mana mid-flight.
"Finally, a break," Rin sighed.
"Indeed," Saber replied.
The two sat at opposite ends of the beat-up prop bed, one on the headboard, one near the foot—completely void of any intimacy that might've existed just moments before.
"Master wasn't satisfied again?" Arturia asked, watching Shinji discuss something with the cameraman, her expression tinged with a sigh.
She'd never been comfortable with close contact, especially with women. That awkwardness was rooted deep, all thanks to some less-than-happy memories involving her sister and Guinevere.
Rin, who hadn't been enjoying the Yuri-lite scene much either, brushed her hair back and huffed.
"Who knows what's going through Shinji's head. He probably has some... weird kink or something."
Not that she had anything against Saber. But cuddling with a girl on a bed, even if it was for a fake scene, felt a little repulsive.
"Rin," Arturia suddenly asked seriously, "do you dislike Master?"
"Huh?" Rin blinked. "Why do you say that?"
"Because... you're always disagreeing with him."
That blunt, emotionless tone hit harder than expected, and Rin found herself momentarily speechless.
"Well… I wouldn't say I hate him. But he's always been kind of a jerk, you know?" Rin muttered, arms crossed. "Even back when we were kids, he was already conning Shirou and me out of our allowance."
She glanced at Shinji, who was still busy discussing shot angles. A small, nostalgic smirk curled at the corner of her lips.
"But... he's never changed one bit when it comes to movies. Always obsessed."
"So you like him?"
"L-Like!?" Rin nearly choked on air. "N-No way! What are you even talking about?! I would never like that guy!"
She slapped the bed in protest, face burning. "Why are you even asking that?!"
"Because I don't know what love is."
Arturia's voice was unusually soft. "Master wants me to act like a girl in love. But I don't know how."
"Ah..." Rin didn't know how to respond.
It wasn't like she had much more experience in the romance department. She has been single since birth herself.
After a pause, she cleared her throat. "Maybe… you should read some manga? Or novels?"
"Manga and novels?"
"Yeah—romance stuff. They describe love really well. I think it'd help you understand the feelings better."
She then rattled off the names of a few shoujo manga and romance novels.
"Ohh," Arturia nodded enthusiastically, mentally taking notes. "Rin, you're amazing."
"Heh, well, I am pretty good," Rin said, lifting her chin with pride.
"But… why do you know so many manga and novels?" Arturia asked, tilting her head with innocent curiosity. "Aren't top students supposed to avoid distractions?"
"Uhhh… well…"
Rin suddenly became flustered. She didn't really have a good answer.
Fortunately, someone came to her rescue.
"Alright, ladies," Shinji clapped his hands as he walked over, cutting in right on cue. "We're using a few props for the next shot."
He placed a beaker onto the bed with a satisfying thunk. Inside was a thick, jelly-like black substance that looked... very not edible.
"What is this?" Rin asked, poking it with a finger.
"Something I whipped up using the Archibald family's mystic code—Volumen Hydrargyrum," Shinji explained, grinning.
Shinji spoke with complete seriousness, like he was unveiling the next revolution in the film industry.
"It's crafted using modern industrial techniques and magically activated. It's flexible, breathable, and highly moldable—a near-perfect product. The only downside is the cost. Otherwise, I could've made a fortune just selling this stuff."
Rin immediately cut him off.
"Cut the crap. What the hell is it even for?"
"Body shaping. Bust enhancement," Shinji replied flatly. "Compared to existing silicone breast forms, this has a more realistic texture, better feel, and superior breathability. You can wear it all day without discomfort."
"WHY would you even need something like that?! You pervert!"
Rin raised her fist, looking ready to commit violence. Her expression screamed, "Either explain, or I'm going to paint the floor red!"
"Because the last take didn't look good!" Shinji retorted with a shrug. "The costumes didn't fill out right. It looked flat and awkward on camera."
Despite being beautiful girls anyone would turn their heads for, neither Arturia nor Rin were exactly… gifted in that department.
Standing was fine, but once lying down, certain shortcomings became very, very noticeable.
If it were just a fleeting shot, he wouldn't mind. But this scene—Rin and Arturia cuddling—was pivotal. It had to look good.
"You're just making excuses!" Rin barked back, cheeks puffed with anger. "All this big-boobs nonsense is just your disgusting fantasy, isn't it?!"
Unexpectedly, Arturia spoke up.
"Rin, on this matter… I agree with Master."
"Wha—!?"
Rin turned like she'd been stabbed in the back, staring at Arturia with wide eyes.
"You're a girl too! Aren't we supposed to stand together on stuff like this?!"
"Hmm, how should I put this…"
Arturia crossed her arms, nodding with a sage-like attitude.
"Rin, your bust is… middle-tier. Not quite flat like me, but nowhere near Sakura's level either. A half-measure, if you will. Of course it looks off on camera."
"W-WHAT?!"
Rin's jaw dropped.
Arturia's comment wasn't technically that offensive… but it felt like a slap to the soul.
Shinji, meanwhile, couldn't help but glance at the two girls' chests. As much as he wanted to deny it, Arturia's outrageous comment… had a grain of truth.
Rin's bust hovered somewhere between a flat board and a full B-cup. Not bad, but not cinematic either.
Arturia, by contrast, was the kind of flat that is not unlike Honkai Impact 3 Fu Hua.
"No, no, you've got it all wrong," Shinji raised his hands defensively. "It's not for Rin. She's on top in the scene—it doesn't affect the shot. The one who needs this is you, Arturia. You lying there looked like someone dropped a plank of wood in the bed. It's just too flat. I have to prop it up."
"Wha—?! Master, how could you!!"
Now it was Arturia's turn to look like someone had kicked her puppy.
"Oh? So it's not me? Phew— HAHAHA!"
Rin clutched her head, laughing like she'd survived a close encounter with death.
"Don't get cocky, Rin," Shinji said as he patted her shoulder. "If you want, I can give you some too."
"This stuff's totally safe, non-toxic, and top-tier for body shaping. If you're worried people will notice the sudden change, just start small. Say you're trying something new. Then gradually increase it with age—no one will ever suspect a thing."
He gave her a winning grin.
"Come on, we've been friends since childhood. I'll give you the friends-and-family discount—"
"SHUT UP, YOU DAMN PERVERT!!"
Rin's fist flew straight into his face with explosive force.