Chapter 216: A Sudden Encounter
After breakfast, Hachiman Hikigaya took Sakura to the front desk, checked out of the hotel they stayed in last night, and stepped out.
After all, Fuyuki City was the stronghold of both the Tohsaka and Matou families.
Unable to know for sure where their informants might be, Hachiman could only adopt the strategy of staying just one night before moving to a new lodging.
By comparison, Kayneth had already suffered from not realizing this the previous night.
After finishing the harbor battle with his Servant, Kayneth intended to return and rest properly. But no sooner had he returned to the hotel than the fire alarm rang.
Once he identified that hostile Servants had intruded, he stationed his Servant to guard the lower floors and quietly awaited the intruders' arrival.
Kayneth's strategy wasn't inherently flawed.
Any Master, including Hachiman, would, upon seeing Kayneth's Servant guarding the floors, send their own Servant to deal with the Berserker left behind.
But unfortunately, Kayneth's opponent this time was Kiritsugu Emiya.
Kiritsugu wasn't targeting Kayneth to avenge a previous shot. The reason he focused on Kayneth immediately after the harbor battle was that Kayneth had boldly checked into a high-class hotel.
Even though Kayneth set up magical barriers on his floor and the floors above and below, that wouldn't stop Kiritsugu from planning to blow up the hotel directly…
While Hachiman and Sakura were searching for a new place to stay, Kayneth and his fiancée Sola, protected by his alchemical creations, had already been transported to a safe location by the police under magical guidance.
"Damn you, Kiritsugu Emiya!"
Seeing that only he, Sola, and his invisible protector remained nearby, Kayneth cursed Kiritsugu with a dark expression.
He didn't need to guess—anyone willing to use explosives and abandon the pride of a magus in combat had to be the magician killer, Kiritsugu Emiya.
"Fine, then Saber will take the lead in leaving first!"
Unable to swallow the humiliation of feeling like a cornered dog, Kayneth made a decision. Tonight, he would go to the Einzbern Castle to deal with Saber and that mercenary, Kiritsugu Emiya.
Why at night?
Because they still needed a new place to stay.
Thus, by a series of coincidences, Hachiman and Kayneth almost simultaneously chose a seemingly inconspicuous inn.
"Lancer's Master?"
Unexpectedly running into an enemy in the hallway of the inn, Kayneth's face showed surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.
After all, he had Berserker, a Servant capable of suppressing Saber, at his side. Even if Hachiman had one of the three great Knights, Lancer, what could that change?
However, thinking of having to deal with Kiritsugu later that night, Kayneth's eagerness to fight dwindled. Seeing that Hachiman had even brought a child, he ground his teeth in frustration.
"What on earth do you take this Holy Grail War for?!"
"Huh?"
Hachiman was baffled by Kayneth suddenly exploding in anger.
"This is the Holy Grail War! You actually brought a child? Are you provoking the other participants?!"
Seeing Hachiman still unable to react, Kayneth, who took the pride of magi very seriously, immediately pointed at Sakura and shouted.
"Before talking about me, maybe you should look at yourself first, okay?"
Hachiman retorted without hesitation.
So what if he brought a child? Didn't Kayneth also bring a stunning, well-built beauty? Compared to Hachiman bringing Sakura, Kayneth was clearly far more egregious.
"Sola is my fiancée!"
Hearing this, Kayneth immediately defended himself.
"Exactly because she's your fiancée, that's even more excessive, isn't it?"
Bringing your fiancée to participate in the Holy Grail War—Kayneth's arrogance was far beyond Hachiman's.
"I brought Sola because…"
Kayneth's words suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Wait a moment. Even if his intention was mainly to show off in front of Sola, why was he explaining this to a guy who brought a child?
He was a first-class Clock Tower instructor, far above Hachiman, a third-rate magician with no real background!
"Fine, I'll let you off this time."
Kayneth closed his eyes to calm himself. When he opened them again, he had returned to his proud, confident demeanor.
He raised his head slightly, declaring that he would spare Hachiman and his party. After warning them to properly secure the child before facing him in an honorable fight, Kayneth turned and left the inn.
"Alright, everyone, let's go inside and rest…"
To Hachiman, the sudden encounter with Kayneth was just a minor episode.
Once Kayneth left, Hachiman quickly grabbed Sakura's hand, led her into the room, and began setting up their new lodging.
"Um, Onii-chan, don't we need to move again?"
Sakura looked puzzled as Hachiman tidied the room.
They had already revealed their location. Why stay here?
"Because that guy is very proud."
Hachiman answered matter-of-factly.
Although they had only met briefly, Kayneth's almost innate noble pride meant he would never reveal his location to others or sneak back to attack.
What he was more likely to do was deal with the other five groups first (if possible), send a message through proper channels, and then meet at a designated location for a duel with only his Servant, like a knight of old.
"Although his pride annoys me a bit, I respect his straightforward character."
After all, if it were someone without principles, seeing Sakura might have prompted them to immediately order their Servant to attack, specifically targeting her.
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